Democracy, majorities, and freedom

Here's the question. Should the majority decide everything?

The short answer is "no." In the U.S., the bill of rights sets forth the limits on what the majority can do.

Unfortunately, the boundaries get moved from time to time. While political and religious freedoms have been protected, economic freedoms are another matter. For example, the case of Kelo v. City of New London involved a battle between the majority and an individual on whether the government could take someone's house for the purpose of economic development. The Supreme Court got it wrong by siding with the majority over the individual thus eroding economic freedom.

From Professor Mike Munger: "When the majority always wins, each of us loses."

Via Don Boudreaux.