Democracy is a system of government which is operated by the will of the people. The government, in turn, does not grant rights but only protects them and makes sure people have the freedom to pursue happiness. It's not a guarantor of the outcome. 

Believing that rights come from government, and that without that adjudicating body we would devolve into chaos is an inherently un-American way of thinking. But that's the exact, Orwellian belief expressed by State Senator Chris Larson to a Madison radio talk show host. From Media Trackers:

A day after a surprise vote catapulted freshman State Senator Chris Larson into leadership of the State Senate Democrats, Larson was interviewed by Madison radio host John “Sly” Sylvester about his new role and the upcoming legislative session. After a rather pedestrian interview where “Sly” asked the young State Senator how he was able to earn the vote of his colleagues and what Larson intends to do as Minority Leader, Senator Larson let slip his radical Left-wing views. Senator Larson finished the interview with this statement.

SEN LARSON: Look Sly, I think it’s important to uh- when people are talking about smaller government, I think people have to remember what the word government actually means. What kind of government do we have? We have a democracy. It’s an election by the community, by people within the neighborhoods who decide what they want to do as a collective on where they want to go with this state. So when you talk about reducing government, you’re talking about reducing democracy when you’re doing that. You’re reducing the ability of people to hold their electeds accountable and actually get a safety net when people are feeling down.

SLY: Well, Amen to that. Senator congratulations.

Really?

For the new leader of the State Senate Democrats, “reducing government” equals “reducing democracy.” The utter stupidity of this statement speaks for itself and provides a peek into the radical Left-wing political philosophy of the new Minority Leader of the State Senate. Any cut in the size, scope, and cost of government is a threat to democracy. Under this logic, an ever expanding government at all levels would make for a more free and democratic society in Senator Chris Larson’s world.