The essence of a democracy is the Individual.

The essence of a democracy is the Individual. To be sure, the form of Government must be structured democratically. But, even a Democratic 'political structure', cannot long-live, without the help, or the cooperation, of the Individuals who created it, and the same People, that it purports to govern. The reason is clearly because the form of Government is only an 'abstract structure'. Its a 'verbal generalization' that must be filled with democratic 'activity'. The generalization becomes a 'governmental institution', that continues to exist as a 'theoretical structure' that must be 'imbued' with 'life'. That 'life' is the 'life' of the Individual. Only the human being is 'alive'; the Government structure is only a 'political institution'. The 'theory' of Government is enlivened with 'democratic activity'. That becomes possible only because the Individual in a Democracy is considered to be Free and Equal. That's also why non-democracies that do not consider the Individual Free and Equal, cannot benefit from 'democratic input'. Those Governments survive only as long, as the Individuals they govern, permit it. All Institutions continue to exist, so long as the People participate and permit it. An 'ignored Institution' cannot long survive. Human beings must have Government, and Governments must have Power, but Government cannot ignore the human beings it purports to Govern.