Quote:
Originally Posted by Buster
All of the above weaken democracy, they don't strengthen it.
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I found this an interesting comment. I wonder what you mean by "weaken". Do you mean less democratic? Or do you mean it undermines democracy per se?
If it is the latter, I disagree. If it is the former, I think you have to realize that democracy is not something to be maximized, but to be optimized. Increasing the democratic nature of something is not necessarily good. It is often good, but not necessarily so. Take gay marriage, for example. Such a human right should in no way be subject to popular vote. Yet a referendum on such an issue "increases" or perhaps "strengthens" democracy.
Free speech is exactly like democracy. Both are good in reasonable doses; both are horrific when taken too far. This is the crucial point that free speech zealots fail to grasp.