Systems routinely protect liberty...systems are nothing but the People, but with rules, guidelines, structure, and a governing philosophy. The philosophy behind and promoting Federalism is spelled out clearly in the Federalist.
The Federalist system was intended to ensure that "the people" don't form a mob and restrict the rights of the individual through majority rule. Democracy is mob rule. Democracy is just People. Without the System, the People would go where the mob goes, and do what the mob does. Fuck that noise, that's just anarchy wearing lipstick.
I'll take a well thought out, rational System over the whims of the People any day, no matter how imperfect it is.
I agree, but people conflate systems with power and responsibility. If you look at any "government" structure, they all can work satisfactorily as long as the people in control are benevolent. A big problem, I see is diffusion of responsibility: people don't want to act on their own behalf. It's easier when others do. As a result, people with power will recognize denizens are ceding power.
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