The Rot of the Republic

Listen up, 'cause I'm about to spit some truth
About a disease that's eating our society from the root
Corruption, the silent killer, the thief in the night
Stealing our future, our justice, our right

Bribes exchanging hands, backdoor deals in the dark
While the common folk struggle, just trying to make their mark
Services meant for all, now reserved for a few
Tell me, is this the society we ever knew?

Plato's spinning in his grave, his ideal state in shambles
As the guardians of our republic take part in corrupt gambles
Aristotle's golden mean? More like a rusty scale
Tipped in favour of the rich, leaving the poor to wail

John Rawls cries out from behind his veil of ignorance
"Where's the fairness? The justice? This ain't what I meant!"
The social contract in tatters, Rousseau's dream undone
When public service becomes a race that can't be won

Corruption kills! It kills our schools, our hospitals, our streets
It kills our faith in leaders, in the cop on the beat
It kills our children's future, their chance to rise and shine
It kills our very soul, crossing every moral line

Kant would ask, "Is this universal? Could all act this way?"
If everyone was corrupt, society would decay
But here we are, watching it crumble day by day
As the corrupt few steal everyone else's say

So what do we do? How do we break this chain?
How do we wash away this deep, pervasive stain?
It starts with us, with you, with me, with all
Standing up, speaking out, refusing to fall

For every bribe refused, every whistleblower brave
We claw back our future from corruption's grave
It's time to rise, to fight, to make things right
To bring our society back into the light

Because justice ain't just a word, it's our lifeline
Fairness ain't a luxury, it should be yours and mine
Well-being ain't for sale, it's our birthright
So stand up, speak out, and join the fight!

Against corruption, against the rot
For the society we want, not the one we've got
The philosophers of old, showed us the way
Now it's up to us to seize a better day!
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

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