Right to Dissent

I often hear leaders say something like this, "If you don't have a better plan, then you don't have a right to criticize." On the surface, this sounds reasonable. Think how many times you've wanted to tell someone, "If you don't have a better idea, then just keep your mouth shut and go with the flow." Professional or perpetual critics can drive us crazy.

The claim that the right to question or criticize is tied to one's ability to offer a better solution is a dangerous one, however. It says that unless you are in a position to formulate a better plan, then you cannot be part of the discussion. This leaves out a whole lot of folks. For example, most people living in poverty are not in a position to formulate a plan for dealing with our nation's economic woes. They often do not have access to the education needed, the facts and figures required, or the big picture perspective that must be taken into account. Therefore, because they cannot possibly come up with a better, more workable plan for our nation's economy, they are told that they have no right to complain about their situation. They must buckle down and simply endure while keeping their mouths shut.

Those who say, "You can't criticize unless you have a better plan," are elitists at best and oppressors at worst. Either way, the notion holds great danger for society. It is one of the ways that people in power quell dissent and keep people in line. It shuts down discussion and promotes apathy. It also virtually guarantees that the will of those in power will remain unchecked.

Whenever I hear someone say that I can't criticize what is happening unless I have a better plan, I wonder, "What is this guy hiding?" It makes me suspicious. At the same time, however, I have to remind myself that criticism is not something to toss around needlessly. If we are going to critique the work of others, then we need to offer the most reasonable response that we can. Letting ourselves get carried away with emotion or allowing ourselves to be picked up by someone else' bandwagon doesn't really help the situation. If we are going to dissent, then we need to take our dissent seriously. We don't want to be complainers and obstructionists. Rather, we should simply seek to have our voices heard so that those in power can have a better view of the big picture -- one that includes all of us.