No, no paradox. Hence the difference between “democracy” and “republic”.
Woodrow Wilson saw democracy and socialism as “one and the same” actually, as did Marx and Engels who claimed that the communist revolution would set up “a democratic constitution” through which their imaginary “proletariat” would become the ruling class.
“Woodrow Wilson saw democracy and socialism as ‘one and the same’ actually, as did Marx and Engels who claimed that the communist revolution would set up ‘a democratic constitution’ through which their imaginary ‘proletariat’ would become the ruling class.”
I think the American idea of “government by the people” is meant to ensure that the individual can govern himself and his own affairs. When an American hears the word “democracy”, that’s what he thinks of, not a tyranny of The Collective.