Romania 2024: Collective fury and the lessons that… “were meant to be.”

What we are witnessing now in Romania is not just a vote. It is an explosion of collective dissatisfaction, a fist raised against the system, regardless of the consequences. It is something humanity's history has seen before – every time with disastrous effects. Let’s see how we are retracing the steps of great moments of "Let’s change something, anything, even if we end up worse!"

Ancient Rome – When the plebeians said “Enough!”

In Rome, just like in Romania today, the disillusioned said something like: “Down with the corrupt Senate, up with one of our own!” That’s how leaders like Caligula came to power, a populist emperor who started by being “the people’s savior” and ended by declaring war on the gods and the ocean (literally). Why? Because a choice made out of hatred for the system rarely leads to a healthy outcome. Sound familiar?

The French Revolution – Robespierre and the guillotine of change

France, 18th century: The people decided that the nobility had to pay, and Robespierre, a radical leader and promoter of equality, became the symbol of hope. But shortly after, his promises came at a cost – the guillotine became so busy that cities were emptier than store shelves during oil discounts. When fury dictates change, blood flows faster than progress.

Interwar Germany – Pure populism

The 1930s: Germans, hit by poverty and disillusioned with politicians, chose a leader who promised to restore their pride. Hitler offered them “a simple solution for complex problems.” The result? The greatest tragedy of the 20th century. A clear lesson that despair and quick solutions are best friends with disaster.

Romania 2024 – A precarious democracy manual

Now, Romanians are choosing a completely unknown outsider because “everyone else is bad.” It sounds like a joke, but it’s the reality. CG (no, it doesn’t stand for Computer Generated... although TikTok might suggest otherwise;-) is not just an improbable candidate – he is a mirror reflecting poverty, polarization, frustration, and the lack of political education… or rather… LACK OF EDUCATION. The message is clear: “Anyone is better than what we have now!”

The problem? History tells us that this “anyone” usually leads to “no one.”

Conclusion – Romania and the Russian roulette of democracy

Today’s Romania is playing a dangerous roulette, unequivocally. When democracy becomes a tool of despair, you no longer choose leaders, but symbols of revenge. If history teaches us anything, it’s that collective fury rarely builds anything – rather, it quickly destroys everything.

Romania in November 2024: A revolution through voting that seems to change the system, but probably only changes the decor. The guillotine is digital, Caligula is on TikTok, and the people still hope that “this time will be different”…

Our politicians resemble engineers 'stuck in a project,’ as Liiceanu aptly puts it, in an absurd competition to create the most sophisticated “drilling machine” – one with more buttons, useless functions, and a design as if meant for Mars.

But people don’t need their “machine.”

Here’s the problem.

People just need a simple… “hole” (to paraphrase Prof. Theodore Levitt).

In the middle of this useless race, CG appears with “the illusion of the laser… laser, bro;-)” – the promise that the hole will be made effortlessly, noiselessly, and better than anyone else has ever done it. And yet, history shows us that such spectacular promises are just more shadows projected on the walls of Plato’s cave. They don’t bring light – just a more intense illusion.

PS: There’s still the second round. The question isn’t about who makes the best “drilling machine” or who promises the “magic laser.” The question is whether we, as a society, are ready to leave the cave and see real solutions that address our needs, not glittering illusions.