Final answer:
Freedom, equality, and justice are essential to sustaining democratic principles, ensuring all citizens have an equitable stake in society, facilitating political expression, and preserving individual rights. While they may require trade-offs, these values are key guiding principles shaping democratic laws and policies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Freedom, equality, and justice are cornerstones of a democratic society because they sustain democratic principles by ensuring that all citizens have an equitable stake in society and its governance. These values facilitate political expression, safeguard the rights of individuals, and maintain a balance between government power and citizens' freedoms, thereby fostering social harmony and contributing to political stability. While economic prosperity and social safety are also essential to a functioning society, the foundational elements that support a democracy are fundamentally related to preserving the rights and voices of the people.
Fulfilling these democratic principles in practice requires a delicate balance. Liberty and equality, for example, must be harmonized, as absolute freedom can undermine equality, and pure equality may restrict certain freedoms. A thriving democracy constantly navigates these trade-offs to maintain a society where freedom is preserved without compromising the order and security that enable individuals to exercise their rights.
Overall, democratic ideals of liberty, equality, and justice do not always co-exist without trade-offs. Political scientists and economists often argue that achieving a perfect state where all three ideals are met in their purest forms is challenging. Yet, these ideals act as guiding principles that inform the creation and enforcement of laws and policies, shaping a nation where citizens have the opportunity to contribute to the political process equally and fairly.