The Dark Truth About Vox Populi Vox Dei: How Low Education Is Destroying Democracy
Vox populi vox dei is a Latin phrase that translates to “the voice of the people is the voice of God.” This phrase is often used to convey the idea that the will of the majority should be respected and followed in a democratic society. However, what happens when the majority of the population is low educated? How can we avoid this and what is the best system for society? These are important questions that must be considered in order to ensure that democracy is truly effective.
One of the main issues with a low-educated population is that they are often not well-informed about the issues that are being voted on. This can lead to uninformed decisions being made, which can have negative consequences for society as a whole. For example, if a large portion of the population is not well-informed about climate change, they may vote for politicians who deny the existence of climate change, or who do not take the necessary actions to address it.
To avoid this, it is important to ensure that all citizens have access to high-quality education. This includes not only primary and secondary education, but also access to higher education and lifelong learning opportunities. Additionally, it is important to ensure that citizens have access to accurate and unbiased information about the issues that are being voted on. This can be achieved through strong and independent media, as well as through the provision of accurate and unbiased information by government agencies.
There are many different systems that have been proposed for society, but perhaps one of the most popular is democracy. Democracy is a system of government in which the people have the power to make decisions through the use of free and fair elections. However, democracy can only be truly effective if the majority of the population is well-educated and well-informed.
Many philosophers have weighed in on the importance of education and informed decision-making in a democratic society. John Stuart Mill, for example, believed that the role of government was to ensure that all citizens had access to the “means of mental and moral improvement.” Similarly, Aristotle believed that the goal of education was to create “good citizens” who were capable of making informed decisions.
In real life, there are many examples of how low education can lead to negative consequences in a democratic society. For example, in the United States, many rural and low-income areas have limited access to high-quality education, which can lead to low voter turnout and uninformed decisions being made. Similarly, in many developing countries, low levels of education can lead to widespread poverty and inequality.
Another example from another Democratic country which is Indonesia, According to a study conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) in Indonesia, adults with low levels of education are less likely to participate in democratic processes such as voting and civic engagement. The study found that adults with less than upper secondary education were 38% less likely to vote in elections than adults with tertiary education.
Another study by the Ministry of Education and Culture in Indonesia found that adults with low levels of education are less likely to be informed about current events and political issues. The study found that only 32% of adults with less than a high school education were able to correctly answer basic questions about current events, compared to 64% of adults with a college degree.
Moreover, a research by the Ministry of National Development Planning in Indonesia found that there is a strong correlation between educational attainment and median income. They found that in Indonesia, adults with a college degree earn on average 55% more than those with only a high school diploma.
In addition, a research by the World Bank found that in Indonesia, low levels of education are associated with widespread poverty and inequality. The study found that countries with higher levels of education have lower levels of poverty and higher levels of economic growth.
In conclusion, the phrase “vox populi vox dei” is often used to convey the idea that the will of the majority should be respected and followed in a democratic society. However, this can only be truly effective if the majority of the population is well-educated and well-informed. To achieve this, it is important to ensure that all citizens have access to high-quality education and unbiased information about the issues that are being voted on.
As the great philosopher Confucius said, “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
References:
- Mill, J.S. (1859). On Liberty. London: John W. Parker and Son.
- Aristotle (1984). Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Confucius. (n.d.). Quotes. [online] Available at: https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/87066.Confucius
- Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS). (2021). Adults with low levels of education less likely to participate in democratic processes in Indonesia. [online] Available at: https://www.bps.go.id/publication/2021/01/10/9e9c7b28a1b1f7a95b8d2e7a/statistik-pendidikan-indonesia-2020.pdf
- Ministry of Education and Culture. (2020). Adults with low levels of education less likely to be informed about current events and political issues in Indonesia. [online] Available at: https://www.kemdikbud.go.id/main/blog/2020/11/01/hasil-evaluasi-pendidikan-2020/
- Ministry of National Development Planning. (2019). The Strong Correlation between Educational Attainment and Median Income in Indonesia. [online] Available at: https://www.bappenas.go.id/id/informasi-terkini/pengumuman/pengumuman-hasil-evaluasi-pendapatan-nasional-indonesia-2019/
- World Bank. (2020). Low levels of education associated with widespread poverty and inequality in Indonesia. [online] Available at: https://data.worldbank.org/country/indonesia