Dream Number 6: A Democratic Transition in Peril

One night, I found myself in a dream, standing in the grand hall of a government building. The air was thick with anticipation, the kind that hangs in the room during historic moments. A democratic government was making its official transition — an old president, worn by years in office, stood ready to hand over power to a newly elected leader. The handshake was firm, formal, and broadcasted for all to see. It symbolized the peaceful transfer of power, a hallmark of democracy. The room was filled with dignitaries, officials from both the upper and lower houses, gathered to witness this significant moment. The old president, though tired, carried a sense of relief in his eyes, as if a weight had been lifted. The new president, however, stood stiff and uneasy, their face showing a mixture of pride and burden. The applause that followed the handshake felt hollow, as if those in attendance sensed the uncertainty that lay ahead. As the dream unfolded, I realized this wasn’t just a normal transition of power. This was something bigger, something that affected not just the country but the world. The setting wasn’t an Asian nation; it felt distinctly like a superpower in the West. The architecture, the people, the way they carried themselves — this was a country that had long stood at the top of the global hierarchy. Yet, despite their electoral victory, the new government appeared fragile. The celebration of winning the election quickly faded into the background as the weight of governance set in. I could feel the tremors of the problems they were about to face. A human power shortage gripped the administration — seasoned officials had either retired or resigned, leaving the new government scrambling to fill key positions. There was no longer enough expertise, no longer enough strength to manage the country’s affairs. Financial crises loomed on the horizon, dark and threatening. The economy was on the verge of collapse, and the government’s resources were rapidly dwindling. Even the best economists in the room could not seem to find a way out. The country, once a pillar of global stability, now seemed to be falling apart at the seams. It was as if the very foundation of power was crumbling, and everyone knew it, though no one dared to speak of it. The upper house and lower house, now filled with newly elected representatives, were weak and divided. Their inexperience showed as they fumbled through legislative debates and attempted to pass laws. Every issue, every problem felt insurmountable — from healthcare to education, from energy to national security. And while the new government had won the election, it was clear that victory in the polls did not translate to the capacity to govern. In the dream, I watched as the new president, standing tall before the nation, was slowly weighed down by the enormity of the task ahead. The handshake had marked a peaceful transition, but it had also signaled the beginning of a new era of uncertainty. The country was struggling, and there were no easy answers. The superpower I was witnessing seemed to be entering a period of deep instability. I woke from the dream with a sense of unease, knowing that even the strongest nations are not immune to the challenges of leadership. The dream was a reminder that democracy, while powerful, requires more than just an election to succeed. It requires wisdom, strength, and resilience — qualities that, in my dream, seemed in short supply.