Democracy is simply over-rated; if we, the people, were meant to elect leaders by counting votes, we would have been born with more fingers. While we can compensate by taking off our shoes and socks, the fundamental problem of democracy is that it causes more hassles than it is actually worth.

Consider the recent case of Hongshu Luzhou Neighborhood in Futian District, Shenzhen. At around 10:35am on April 14, a gang of 20-30 pipe-carrying thugs burst into a election to determine the new property management for the neighborhood, Nandu Web reported. Within three minutes of entering the compound, the thugs had stolen three ballot boxes while being recorded in broad daylight.

The neighborhood was voting to determine a new property management after the term for the current management expired in August 2013. Four new property managements were invited to be on the ballot, but not the existing one. For its part, current property management Gonglian Property Management Company has disavowed any involvement with the theft of the ballot boxes.

Property management is an integral part to the running of operations to neighborhoods and buildings. Components like security guards are hired by the property management, a circumstance that allows illegal behavior by security guards to be dismissed later by the neighborhood or institution—a situation much like the Shenzhen hospital that absolved itself of any responsibility after its security guards were recorded abusing a cat and then caught on camera beating reporters.

Tampering with ballot boxes happened before in July 2012 when thugs crashed another Guangdong neighborhood election. The video shows thugs threatening and beating voters before making off with a ballot box. Meanwhile, reform for selecting property management in Shenzhen has proposed neighborhood elections by which voters can submit ballots by text message.

With its ballots now lost, the outcome of the Hongshu Luzhou neighborhood election is thrown into chaos. If there weren’t any elections whatsoever, problems like these would be remedied before they begin. If only we could live in an ideal world in which the responsibilities of the many are shouldered by an elite group that know better—then, at last, Hongshu Luzhou residents can enjoy the harmonious property management they deserve.

Photo: Nandu