The USSR constitution was designed to empower the government, especially with the caveats that specified “in the interests of the working people”, and no “negative liberties” that the government could never take away from you (all rights were “positive” rights that could be taken away at any time for any reason).
The EU’s constitution and Charter of Fundamental Rights are formatted exactly the same way.
FDR started us down that road with the “Four Freedoms”:
1. Freedom of speech
2. Freedom of worship
3. Freedom from want
4. Freedom from fear
1 and 2 were fine, but “Freedom from....” is the road to Hell.
They made sure everyone had access to it at all times, even in the Gulag!