Democracy is not necessarily a good thing. We experience a special form, liberal democracy, but pure democracy the ancient Greeks practiced was not. In Greek city-states, either every citizen voted, or, if too many, legislators were selected by lot as we do jury members today. They, then, had absolute power. They voted to execute Socrates simply because they didn't care for his opinions. This happens today. In Serbia, after a free and fair election, ethnic cleansing commenced. In the French Revolution, “liberty fraternity equality” degenerated into free access for everyone to “Guillotine! Guillotine! Guillotine.” The Intelligentsia of France saw no need for constitutional impediments of checks and balances. Napoleon ended their Terror and their democracy—but not before it had claimed those who saw no need for limitations.
Hopefully this makes us appreciate our forefathers insight in building the U.S. Constitution, with its checks, balances, and protection of minority rights—especially that smallest of minorities, the individual. The seemingly arcane rules of the Senate are also geared for this. They are not inefficient as most presume, but very effective in protecting the minority, which, if you are not now, you may be as soon as the next election.
Office holders in the United States swear to protect the Constitution. Some mean it. Some know not what it means.
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Another and better try at telling what I mean.
