Governing in the 21st century

What's happening in our world is a question we hear almost daily by people who are overly concerned about the social and political turmoils that many countries are facing today. Countries are marred by social unrest, violence, unemployment, etnic tensions, among others. One supposes that the government is there to govern for the good and well being of the people - by putting in place policies and programs that would alleviate existing problems, relieve social and political tensions, and elevate the life of its people. A government must demonstrate to its people that it's accomplishing this. There is a time factor involved also - when people must begin to see some evidence of positive results. The people set this time factor, not the government. People would say, for example, that the government has been in power now for so long, and we haven't begun to see any changes or new programs that address our concerns. They, somehow, give the government time to realize this. But if after such time, they cannot see anything of what they would have been expecting, the tendency is to revolt. But this is a process. A revolt does not start overnight. This process usually begins by people seeking audience with the powers that be, to address their concerns and look for a peaceful and amicable solution. But if a government does not want to listen to its people and take their concerns seriously, and if a government wants to impose its own policies and programs on its people without sensible consultation, it would be paving the road for more serious problems later on. Gone are the days when people would remain dormant, and not raise their voices at issues that really mean a lot to them. We now live in a new world: a world that is more outspoken on just about any issue that concerns them, a world that is more united than ever in many aspects, a world that is more daring to challenge authorities in the face of unlikeable situations. And the government that doesn't understand this, and that isn't open to dialogue and responsible change is doomed to fail. Remember, at the end of the day, power is in the hands of the people. We cannot rule this 21st century world with 20th century governments. This new order requires new rules. As the world continues to change, goverments must also evolutionize with the times. They ought to always seek the harmony, peace, and growth of their peoples.