the distinctive features of democratic government at least as we understand it in the western wold intended with its rules of law restricts our freedom to do as we please. democrats recognize the necessity of this, but they believe that , so far as possible, the rules should be self-imposed or at any rate should be in accordance with the will or consent of the citizens if a man imposes a rule on himself or agrees to its imposition by another, he is not being compelled but is acting voluntarily . democracy is a doctrine of 'do it yourself',and, as someone has remarked ' do it yourself' often comes to ' rue it yourself'. the democrat is prepared to make his own mistakes rather than to be directed by someone else who may have superior wisdom. the underlying idea is that self-direction, choosing for yourself , is far preferable to having decisions made for you, and imposed upon you, by another. this is why liberty is valued.