1) Liberal democracy recognises of innate rights the denial of which makes a democracy both unjust and unstable. That’s fine, but who decides what those rights are? The majority or a self-appointed minority e.g. liberal human-rights lawyers? 2) The principle of elected representation makes the passage of laws less susceptible to wild swings of mood and passion. In the last free pre-WW2 elections in November 1932 the Nazis won 33% of the vote on an 80% turnout i.e. only 26% of the German electorate actually voted for Hitler. But he still took power and look what happened. So much for that argument 3) The principle of separation of powers makes it harder for a majority to subject a minority to its will. But, as we have seen in the US and the UK, packing the Supreme Court makes it easier for a minority to subject the majority to its will.
In some ways the term liberal democracy is a contradiction in terms.
1) Liberal democracy recognises of innate rights the denial of which makes a democracy both unjust and unstable. That’s fine, but who decides what those rights are? The majority or a self-appointed minority e.g. liberal human-rights lawyers?
2) The principle of elected representation makes the passage of laws less susceptible to wild swings of mood and passion. In the last free pre-WW2 elections in November 1932 the Nazis won 33% of the vote on an 80% turnout i.e. only 26% of the German electorate actually voted for Hitler. But he still took power and look what happened. So much for that argument
3) The principle of separation of powers makes it harder for a majority to subject a minority to its will. But, as we have seen in the US and the UK, packing the Supreme Court makes it easier for a minority to subject the majority to its will.
In some ways the term liberal democracy is a contradiction in terms.