The United States is not a democracy. It is a republic... specifically a representative republic. Remember that part of the Pledge of Allegiance which says, "..... and to the republic for which it stands."
This is an important point because in a democracy every citizen gets to vote on every issue. In other words it is no different than majority rule, or mob rule. The individual has no standing because the only thing that counts is what the group wants or decides.
Therein lies the invalid concept of a benovolent liberal government. Liberalism considers and panders only to groups. Thus are the rights and welfare of the individual trampled upon.