“I believe in political equality. But there are two opposite reasons for being a democrat. You may think all men so good that they deserve a share in the government of the commonwealth, and so wise that the commonwealth needs their advice. That is, in my opinion, the false, romantic doctrine of democracy. On the other hand, you may believe fallen men to be so wicked that not one of them can be trusted with any irresponsible power over his fellows.”

—C.S. Lewis, Present Concerns

Wealth, a form of power, triumphs over the common good unless laws prevent it. The wealthy are no more evil than the rest of us, but wealth tempts any of us who have it, as all power does.

When every citizen can vote, one group’s desire to dominate can be checked by those not in the group. Democratic forms of government tend to restrain our selfish tendency to grab power for ourselves alone.

“When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.”

–Edmund Burke

(This may be the basis for the oft-quoted phrase whose speaker is unknown:

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”)