I agree with your first paragraph but this: > All our legal protections ultimately depend on a democratic foundation is the wrong way round. I suspect you're

I agree with your first paragraph but this: > All our legal protections ultimately depend on a democratic foundation is the wrong way round. I suspect you're speaking from a US perspective. The US constitution limits the rights of goverment for the benefit of the people, it does not limit the rights of the people for the benefit of government.