Shoulders, Giants, and Cats🐈

Let the people decide what is good for them. On the one hand, this principle is at the core of democracy and manifests in the phrase "majority rule." On the other hand, the protection of the voice of the minority is another principle a functioning democracy must enforce. Democracy requires both. The fundamental assumption is that, after free and informed debate, the majority will be reasonable enough to judge ideas based on their merits (and not on their emotional relationship with the proponents). Because in a democracy, the Government's wisdom is an extension of the people's wisdom, wise decision-making is the duty of every citizen. The "goodness" of a decision or an idea does not necessarily depend on the number of its proponents but on the independent practical assessment of available information. The difficulty in balancing the interests of opposing sides is highlighted on occasions when the minority is unwilling to accept the decision of the

Two years into the pandemic, many continue to suffer from the disease. Even two or three vaccine doses later, our lifestyle remains hostage to the risk of a sudden outbreak that could cripple our liberties, as does the recent surge in cases of infections of the Omicron strain. Twenty-twenty-two brings no guarantee of complete relief and restoration of our freedoms stolen by COVID-19. But, in spite of (and sometimes, because of) the pandemic, I've built new genuine friendships, gained godchildren, and witnessed blissful weddings of my best friends. I feel hopeful that more good things are to come in 2022. I look forward to being free to travel again, to getting rid of the fear of the virus and getting used to living with it, and to beginning a new life chapter (after I finish writing those chapters I've been working on for the last three years). It feels awful not being able to celebrate with the people I love. But finding ways to make up despite the distance is