late 14c., from L. dictator , agent noun from dictare (see dictate). Transf. sense of “one who has absolute power or authority” in any sphere is from c.1600. In Latin use, a dictator was a judge in the Roman republic temporarily invested with absolute power.

In the US judges are appointed, invested with absolute power, and serve for life. In Germany Adolf Hitler was appointed, invested with absolute power, and served for life.

Supporters of the Supreme Court argue that majorities violate the rights of minorities so there must be a Supreme Court to undo the wrongs of the majority. What they do not know is dictators also violate the rights of the minorities and nothing can undo their wrongs. Dictatorships have a far worse track record of violating the rights of minorities than democracies. Dictators also violate the rights of the majority and have a far worse track record of violating the rights of the majorities than democracies.

Moreover ever major wrong committed in the US was committed by the elite not the majority. There was no referendum on slavery it was put into place as part of a backroom deal. Then slavery was made the law of the land by the Supreme Court in 1857. It took a Civil War, the death of nearly 700000 Americans and two amendments to the Constitution to undo what 7 dictators decided. One hundred thousand Americans died for every judge that supported slavery.

Liberals were outraged by the U.S. Supreme Court’s role in deciding the presidential election of 2000 with its controversial ruling in Bush v. Gore. Liberals asked how could the court issue a decision that reeked of partisan politics, and send to the White House a candidate who may have actually lost the election?”

How could it not. Indeed every decision by the Supreme Court reeks of partisan politics. Of course when the court bludgeons one’s political enemies then one thinks that the court is fair and impartial but when one disagrees with the court then one thinks that the court is partisan.

Liberals have long argued that the court is right by definition. To say now that the court is wrong when they disagree with the ruling opens them up to the charge of hypocrisy.

A final note: Fewer people vote in the US then any comparable state because in the US the people only propose but the courts dispose.