but I think “governments should fear their people” is not a good rallying cry, we see that in V for Vendetta the fascist government does fear the people, they’re terrified of the people, and go to exorbitant effort to monitor and constrain and suppress the people as a result.
a robust government comprised of the people, representing the people, and transparent to the people, should have no need of fear.
governments should have no fear of the people, as governments should have channels for democratic feedback that make insurrection unnecessary and the threat laughable.