Common Quote by Jonathan D. Morris
“We talk about democracy as if it's a safeguard for individual rights... Instead, it's become our way of intruding on rights, allegedly in the name of that most collectivist of concepts: The Common Good.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Opinion piece on democracy, 2020
Democracy, once a protector of individual rights, is now used to justify collective intrusion under the guise of the Common Good.
In simple terms: Democracy can be twisted to limit freedoms for collective aims.
Guard against collective overreach that harms individual rights.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- legal reforms
- civic education
- public protests
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How should societies balance common good with personal freedoms?
- What mechanisms can prevent democratic abuse?
Balancing collective welfare and individual liberty is complex.