Shahnaz Khan Most people in Pakistan believe in a myth that has been perpetuated by the politicians, media and some liberals: The current inefficient, corrupt and inept system of governance is a form of democracy and which, if given enough time and if people can just be patient through this torturous journey, will eventually metamorphose itself into a truly representative, accountable, transparent, honest and just system worthy of being called a true democracy. Citizens of Pakistan are constantly being bombarded by messages: That it is only a matter of a few election cycles and only if more people exercise their power to vote, unethical, fraudulent and treacherous politicians will be weeded out and replaced by honest representative whose only agenda will be the welfare of people, and at the same time they are being threatened that if they are not patient and not do as they are being told, they will have to face another army dictatorship. What is democracy but that the people have equal and equitable power to participate in the discussion on the major issues that impact their lives directly or indirectly, in the decision making and then implementation of solutions, leading to empowerment of masses, equal access to resources and opportunities for all and the right to live peacefully? The next question is: What is the source of that power? The answer to this question does not need any major research or intellectual debate. The real source of power is economic strength. It always has been, still is and always will be. Anyone who doubts this proposition needs to just look around and observe the power dynamics at family, tribal, community, national and international level. Who controls and dominates the debates and ultimately makes the decision? Wives are subordinate to husbands because they are financially dependent on them, tribal chiefs control their subjects with the power of money, and so it is at the national and international level. And just like the prospect of female financial independence threatens the male ego, powerful forces at the tribal, national and international level cannot bear the thought of sharing their powers with those below them. Otherwise, why is Pakistan so submissive to every demand by the USA? Isnt it because of economic weakness? And, in fact, it is not just in Pakistan, even in the USA, considered the prototype of democracy; the power is and is increasingly becoming, concentrated in the hands of those who control the financial systems. The freedom of an average American is limited to the mundane issues, like choice of watching a television programme or buying consumer goods of their liking etc. Even though few of them realise it, yet So, how can it be expected that democracy can be achieved without economic parity? How, in a country where one-third of the population lives in poverty and those who are able to keep their heads above water, having no time or energy left for anything else, including intellectual energy to even think independently and draw thoughtful conclusions from the events taking place around them, can we expect anything, but compliance from the public to whatever demands are being made of them by the system? The inevitable result is that they are gullible to whatever media and prophets and kings of the domain called politics feed them. Therefore, democracy will continue to be an elusive concept, only to be discussed in intellectual circles and drawing rooms of the elite and privileged without having any impact on the thinking or the lives of millions of people in this country. Rest assured that even another hundred uninterrupted election cycles will have no major positive impact on the life of an average person or in their capacity to impact any major reforms in the country. The only road to democracy goes through economic equity and parity. The solution lies in preventing and controlling the accumulation of wealth in a few hands. But how can this be accomplished? This question is at the heart of the issue. But what is the solution and who will implement it? This is where all discussions come to a road block. How do we remove this road block? To expect that those who are currently in power will do it is like living in a fools paradise. History is witness to the fact that rights are never granted out of charitable spirit of the high and mighty. They have to be yanked away from the hands of powerful by those who have the courage to do so. So, how do we embark on this journey? The first step is to start by raising the level of awareness among people about the importance of having an economic system that promotes economic parity, rather than creating economic hegemony. Right now people have been duped into believing that they have no option and their fate is in the hands of landlords, bureaucrats, politicians, and other self-proclaimed saviours of the humanity. Or God What is the root cause of such deep-rooted belief in the minds of people? That is another topic for another time. The more important question is: How to change this? Unless people are able to think differently, they are not willing to act differently. And unless people act differently, assertively and authoritatively no change is possible. There is a need for open public debate and education of people about various economic systems that are available with all the pros and cons of each one. Of course, there will be those who will be threatened by such a proposition. Opposing forces will not be easy to overcome, as they are much more powerful, sophisticated, resourceful and conniving. It will surely require resolve, patience, time and an organised effort with allocation of resources. Are there people in this country who are willing to take that first step and who have the courage to utter the first word of defiance? Who will break the hegemony of the powerful not just on financial resource, but also on the intellectual discourse in this country? I know that there will be followers, but is there a leader in the house? The writer is a medical doctor and freelance journalist. Email: shahnazk@gmail.com