I just read a headline reading "Democracy is dying as technocrats watch". I find this ludicrous.

Democracy *is* dying but it's not because Donald Trump won. It would have still been in terminal condition had Hilary won or Obama stayed. Why?

Democracy - or rule of the people by the people - places a heavy duty, an uncomfortable burden that should be prized, on each and every citizen at all times. There is of course a body politic at the highest levels making policy, but all citizens, every man woman and child, are also responsible for their democracy, both personally and professionally.

Your duty as a citizen doesn't start and end with voting every election season. It means being well-informed, being politically active, and standing up for not only your rights but everyone else's equal rights if and when they are being trampled. It means as a consumer, vote with your dollars. It means that professions also sign this creed such that business decisions take care not to steamroll fellow citizens, at the very least not intentionally. It means companies and industries are also become participatory not just with customers but equally their employees. It means technocrats bring to bear technologies that solve the structural needs of the populace, not just the symptomatic first world problems. It means learning to think holistically and long-term, not just personally for immediate benefit. It means reflection and discussion and execution, in that order.

Even if Hilary had won or Obama had stayed or Brexit never happened and the crisis in the Middle East could have been avoided, if the body of citizens cannot amass to exercise their duties to each other, then the democratic experiment would still be in a death spiral.

When the West cheered on the Arab Spring, it was truly dangerous and unprecedented for protestors to be out in the streets against repressive regimes. But they did so anyway. Can we imagine doing the same at great personal cost or harm? We must - democracy demands it if the cause is important enough.

This is also the good news, that the strongest factor has also been the most silent. Things can change, and it starts with you and me, ordinary citizens and grassroots organizations. Everything you say, think or do is political so make it matter. Get woke, organize, act - and see if democracy is still dying then.