ABSTRACT
Democratic dignity is introduced as a political complement to bourgeois dignity. It makes possible the institutional framework of modern prosperity. Democracy is distinguished from pure majoritarian decision-making, for to be sustainable, it requires free discussion and mobilization of dispersed knowledge, which in turn requires limiting power and restricting matters subject to public choice. The concepts of public goods and of a loyal opposition are central to democracy, which is only possible when public choice is constrained by individual rights and both government and opposition do not fear destruction if they lose. Thus, sustainable democracy is liberal democracy.
