Dissent DOES protect democracy...however, the dissenters mostly try to STIFLE dissent from anyone who doesn't agree with their liberal, brain-dead viewpoint. When the Democrats have a presidential convention, the scene outside is pretty dull. When the Republicans have one, every lunatic nutcase in the world is outside screaming and acting like Howard Dean and trying to do EVERYTHING they can to disrupt the proceedings. SOME dissent...on college campuses, liberal nutcases can blather on any day of the week without one word being said in DISSENT. If someone conservative shows up, they are NOT allowed to present a DISSENTING view....real fucking open minded there, ain't it. Liberals are pinheads masquerading as "intellectuals".