OPINION | No to Bare Minimum, Yes to High Standards

When words sound too good to be true—sentences that excite you for what’s to come—you tend to fall into a hole dug deep specifically for you. What happens next? Do you ignore the red flags and continue to believe the painted picture? Or do you step back because this isn’t right for you?

Let’s apply that in today’s society, shall we? 

When it comes to simple jobs, industries tend to be high-maintenance—unnecessary standards that do not equate to the work itself. However, when it comes to our government, their standards are far from the bare minimum.

Let me narrow down how the system functions: To survive comes with a cost—long hours of labour that barely pay for food, bills, and daily needs. After that, taxes play a role in the “betterment” of the nation. However, those funds are found in pockets they don’t belong in. Once society finally notices, they manipulate, pretend, and defend—none of which ends with taking responsibility. That, right there, is the reality—for some, the normality.

Let’s be honest, flowery words that come with promises are intriguing—it paints a picture of a possibility—but when words aren’t followed by action, that “possibility” becomes a missed reality. It’s not merely coincidental nor an accident; it’s simply manipulation at its finest.

I’m not disappointed, 

I’m pissed at the system,

I’m infuriated by the standards.

Education is a main factor for a well-built system of governance; it’s what raises our walls and keeps the standards high. And believe me when I say corrupt politicians hate well-educated people because they’re not easy to manipulate. 

Unfortunately, what many fail to recognize is how the system of education is shaken down and thrown to the side—they fail the system to raise an uneducated nation. Why? Because, with power, they benefit from keeping the masses in a state of confusion and lack of awareness.

It’s scary how our nation has fallen into this state. High expectations, even for student leaders, are unnecessarily high. How? Student governors, leaders, and journalists are expected to rise and lead an entire institution while juggling schoolwork and personal responsibilities.

They expect too much from students who will later on be judged based on outside school work experience by companies with high, unnecessary standards. However, how come we don’t expect as much from public leaders, while student leaders are judged and degraded if they fall off, even if it’s just a bit.

We expect too much from the wrong people, and later on, forget about our “high standards” when it comes to our government.

I once hoped that there would be change, yet it seems that the “change” we all waited for was empty vocations and false promises. Now, they expect us to compromise when they should’ve been consistent with their promises.

Now we watch as society is devoured by an insatiable greed, swallowing the built-up identity of the nation. Yet, when the time comes to vote, suddenly the masses are blinded by fake promises, popularity, and money. Suddenly, bribery is put into action, and  they’ll call it “democracy.” I can assure you, once they finally have your vote, the time is up. They’ll return to their usual acts of inconsistency until it is time to vote again.

Do not be blind sided by flowery words that fulfill your hopes for a better tomorrow. When voting, do your research, identify who is truly fit for the position, and make it happen. Let’s not lower our standards for people who are merely abusing their power for self-benefit and not to serve the masses. 

It is time we raised our walls and asked, “How will you serve our country?” Because words without action aren’t public service but simply manipulation.