“The mere existence of an “elected government” does not mean no tyranny, of course. Things almost came to a head with Willy Brandt and his Soviet shenanigans.”
The mere existance of a government by necessity does require a modicum of “tyranny”. Plenty of restrictions on liberty for the good of public safety. Like don’t park in front of fire hydrants, don’t jaywalk, etc. This is a small amount of “tyranny” which on balance, the large majority of the public (including me) accept. The problem gets when you start cracking down more intensely on civil liberties, especially against one specific group. Say....Republicans.
Suddenly, the whole cost/benefit analysis of obeying the law starts looking bad, and public consensus breaks down. And that’s when unfortunate things happen....
The rest of that Basic Law reads a little too closely to the USSR constitutions, both the 1936 (Stalin) and 1977 (Brezhnev) versions.
- Every person shall have the right freely to express and disseminate his opinions in speech, writing and pictures and to inform himself without hindrance from generally accessible sources. Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.
- These rights shall find their limits in the provisions of general laws, in provisions for the protection of young persons and in the right to personal honor.
- Arts and sciences, research and teaching shall be free. The freedom of teaching shall not release any person from allegiance to the constitution.