"每年选举结束的地方就是奴役开始的地方"
— John Quincy Adams
Simplified Meaning:
When people lose the ability to vote and choose their leaders, they start losing their freedom. Imagine if everyone in a neighborhood used to gather every year to decide who should be in charge of important tasks, but one year, they are told they don't get to vote anymore. Whoever is in charge now can make decisions without asking anyone, like making unfair rules or taking away people's things, and no one can stop them because they never had a say. This situation is similar to a time in history when some leaders decided to keep all the power to themselves. Without elections, people couldn't change bad leaders or bad rules, and so they felt trapped and powerless, much like being in chains. Applying this to our lives, it's crucial to have a way to express our opinions and choose our representatives, whether it's at work, in communities, or within the government. Ensuring regular elections help keep leaders accountable and protect everyone’s freedom, making sure no one becomes a dictator.