Burke writes that democracies are shameless
and fearless because the men who wield power in them do not expect to be held to account for
collective actions. Even the most tyrannical king has his power somewhat limited by the
reflection that he may one day be overthrown and have to answer for his abuses of power. In a
perfect democracy, however, no single person bears enough of the blame for any decision or
action to make him ashamed or fearful. Also, since the democratic representatives regard
themselves as speaking and acting for the people:
Their
own approbation of their own acts has to them the appearance of a public judgment in their
favour. A perfect democracy is therefore the most shameless thing in the world. As it is the
most shameless, it is also the most fearless. No man apprehends in his person that he can be
made subject to punishment.
Burke goes on to point out
that, since democracies and, indeed, the people themselves can act more despotically than any
king, and can generally do so with impunity:
It is
therefore of infinite importance that they should not be suffered to imagine that their will,
any more than that of kings, is the standard of right and wrong.
It is the possibility of tyranny in a democracy that makes the rule of law so vitally
important as a safeguard against collective abuses of power.
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