Democracy is liberating compared to its absence

If we assume that, at least as far as politics is concerned, people hold their own interests above those of others then we have an argument for democracy. If we imagine a state which is not answerable to democracy then we can see that this will quickly descend into totalitarianism (in the name of communism). The reason for this is that when important decisions are made the state will choose to protect itself above the ordinary person. Equally when elections are held in a democratic country we can assume the people will place themselves (and their interests) above the state. And it is for this reason that democracy is liberating compared to its absence.

Whilst people might claim to be patriotic and to always put their government above themselves, the presence of democracy enables the people to protect themselves from an over-bearing state. Democracy is liberating and provides freedom because it means that the people are able to constrain the state.