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!