[forapurpose]

I fully consent to paying my taxes, even when the money goes to things that I don't want my government to do. Everyone consents to the rules of democracy: Debate it, take a vote, majority wins. Sometimes I'll win, sometimes I'll lose, but I fully support the outcome every time (even if when I'm trying to change it for next time).

[pitaj]

Not everybody consents to those rules. The founding fathers thought those rules were fundamentally broken which is why they encoded a stringent restrictive constitution including checks and balances and the bill of rights.

[simonh]

The founding fathers thought the rules of democracy were fundamentally broken? Isn't the Constitution and Bill of Rights precisely a set of rules for democracy?

[pitaj]

Yes, they did. Based on what happened in Greece, Rome, etc.

[wildrhythms]

In what way do you think the Bill of Rights is restrictive?

[pitaj]

It restricts the power of the government to do things it otherwise would have the power to do.