Surely the right of an individual to enjoy freedom and live in a democratic world would be the ultimate? Some individuals have aimed for these values but today huge parts of our world don't enjoy those benefits.
Your answer raises sooo many follow up questions that it's hard to know where to start.
But I suppose let's start at the top - What do you mean by Freedom?
Should you be free from community responsibilities? Can you pollute water sources downstream from your collection point? Should you be free to make noise at 2am if that's what you want? Should your freedoms come with social obligations, like taxes? Should you be free to plant your flag, build your house, feed your goat wherever you like?
Do you think freedom for the individual (the US model where you are free to impinge on your neighbor) is better or worse than freedom for the society (the European model, where you are free to live without your neighbor impinging on you)?
Given that a democratic world imposes the view of the majority on the minority, is this really the ultimate form of government? How would you feel as a minority member of this utopia? How would you react if your demographic goes from majority to minority?
If a society voted (as a majority) to euthenase people over 80 (clearly a minority) would that be OK? Would you change you mind when you were 79?
Indeed, can you ever be free in a democratic world? Or would you, by necessity need to suppress your minority self to be one of the majority to keep those freedoms?
If say, the majority voted on your freedom for bodily autonomy, and decided for you what you can and can't do, are you still free?
I ask these questions not with any judgement, but rather for you to explore what you mean by "freedom" and "democracy" and whether these notions can co-exist.
Realizing that freedom is not absolute solves all the confusion you claim.
Your freedom stops where somebody else's freedom starts.
As long as you are not hurting anybody, do whatever you want.
But I suppose let's start at the top - What do you mean by Freedom?
Should you be free from community responsibilities? Can you pollute water sources downstream from your collection point? Should you be free to make noise at 2am if that's what you want? Should your freedoms come with social obligations, like taxes? Should you be free to plant your flag, build your house, feed your goat wherever you like?
Do you think freedom for the individual (the US model where you are free to impinge on your neighbor) is better or worse than freedom for the society (the European model, where you are free to live without your neighbor impinging on you)?
Given that a democratic world imposes the view of the majority on the minority, is this really the ultimate form of government? How would you feel as a minority member of this utopia? How would you react if your demographic goes from majority to minority?
If a society voted (as a majority) to euthenase people over 80 (clearly a minority) would that be OK? Would you change you mind when you were 79?
Indeed, can you ever be free in a democratic world? Or would you, by necessity need to suppress your minority self to be one of the majority to keep those freedoms?
If say, the majority voted on your freedom for bodily autonomy, and decided for you what you can and can't do, are you still free?
I ask these questions not with any judgement, but rather for you to explore what you mean by "freedom" and "democracy" and whether these notions can co-exist.