An Epitaph for Democracy: 2084

The students examined their holograms

Suspended before them in mid-air.

The colorful images always gave

Their history lessons added flair.

"You can see countries where," said the teacher,

"Democracy at one time flourished--

Before the form of government

Became weak and undernourished.

"Voting was once considered a right--

Not a privilege for only a few.

Multiple demands destroyed

The system once thought tried and true:

"Manipulation by greed and power,

Proliferation of lies and scams,

Thought control and disinformation,

And leaders who were merely shams

"Undermined the people's freedom.

Clueless people were led astray

By cunning voices persuading them

To stupidly vote their rights away.

"Often people's myopia

Can undermine their common sense.

Doesn't it make you wonder how

So many people can be so dense?"

Maybe I've gone too far, he thought.

I want them to think, to question. But when

Word reached the authorities' ears,

No one saw that teacher again.

-by Bob B (6-5-18)