Wolf Democracy: If Power Has No Limits, There Is No Freedom
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to eat for lunch." Read more at Gazeta do Povo.
TL;DR
- Democracy, especially in its pure form, can lead to the majority infringing upon the rights of the minority.
- Individual rights and freedoms are not inherently guaranteed by a democratic system alone.
- A just legal order and limitations on state power, particularly through a constitution, are essential for protecting individual rights.
- A constitution sets limits on the power of the state, including the legislative power, to prevent violations of individual liberties.
- The Brazilian constitution of 1988 is criticized for being a list of state tasks rather than an instrument for controlling state power, unlike the US Constitution's focus on protecting liberty.
- In a conflict between the majority's desires and individual rights, the latter often lose, even with constitutional protections.