“Does the People Deserve This?”

“People deserve this”?

“This is still too good for these people,” “We are a nation that deserves to perish,” “What is wrong with people? They are getting what they deserve,” “The people are uncultured”—and so on.

Until 2015, these expressions, these almost masochistic cries, were hardly heard or used. Then came the second devaluation, and the economic changes began to affect the way people spoke, behaved, thought and related to one another.

“The people have no taste,” “They follow vulgar people on TikTok,” “The population is poorly educated,” “They are not ready for democracy”…

We hear these sentences frequently today. And then comes the conclusion: “If the people are like this, then they deserve to be governed this way.”

How many people realize how dangerous this way of thinking is? Everyone has their own answer.

Human behavior depends greatly on the environment. Yes, if a person sees for years that those who obey the law lose, that connections can solve problems, that powerful people are not punished, that criticizing those in power is dangerous, that honesty brings harm, and that telling the truth is risky, their behavior may change.

That does not mean they are a “bad person.” The system teaches them which behavior is more beneficial.

Imagine that there are two people working in the same institution. One is honest, follows the rules and speaks openly. The other flatters the boss, says what the boss wants to hear, and gains an advantage by trampling on someone else’s rights. If the system in that institution punishes the first person and rewards the second, people may gradually start thinking:

“Being a good person is not enough here. To survive, you have to behave the way the system wants you to.”

Fear also changes people. Over time, a person may stop saying what they really think, stop trusting others, stop taking risks, become obedient in the face of power and authority, and even begin to oppress those who are weaker.

This creates a deeply tragic situation. For 20 or 30 years, people may be taught not to think independently, not to question, not to tolerate different opinions, and to put personal connections above the law. Then those in power can point to the very behavior they helped create and say, “See? This is what the people are like. Look at the state they are in.”

In this way, the behavior created by those who govern is presented as the “character” of the people.

What about TikTok?

There is no cause-and-effect relationship between a person watching vulgar content and the independence of the courts, the level of corruption, the fairness of elections, freedom of speech, or the rule of law.

The question should not be, “Why do people watch this?” but rather, “Why is this content so popular?” Many factors are at play here, including the media environment, algorithms, socio-economic conditions, education, psychological needs, and the advertising economy.

In fact, this is also what the essence of public administration is about. If education in society is weak, education policies must be developed. If social trust is low, institutions must earn that trust. If people do not obey the law, the law must be applied equally to everyone. If the information environment is poor, conditions must be created for independent and quality media.

The job of the state is not simply to govern people who are already well-formed. The state must also create a healthy social environment.

Saying “The people deserve this” is nothing more than empty talk and old-fashioned grumbling. It shifts responsibility away from those in power and places it on the people, on society.

The people may have their flaws and make mistakes. But none of these can ever justify bad governance.

The issue is not only how people behave. It also matters greatly which behaviors people are rewarded for and which ones they are punished for.

And one more thing: climb the walls if you want—there will be no culture where there is no justice.

Orkhan Adigozal
12 August 2026