As a form of government, a representative Democracy is essentially omnipotent mob rule through surrogates - individuals have no rights except as part of the majority, and must submit absolutely to the will of the majority and their representatives. We see some of that in state initiatives and recalls.
The Founding Fathers were especially sensitive to the "excesses of democracy" and built the American system to protect the "unalienable rights" of citizens. The resulting Republic elects representatives based on a majority (of one form or another), but these representatives must then operate within the constraints of the constitution as a protection of individuals from the democratic "tyranny of the mob."
Let's hope the Supremes understand the difference.
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