The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, is Fascism - ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or any controlling private power. Power is a means to an end. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Power must never be trusted without a check.
Power corrupts the few, but weakness corrupts the many.
If power corrupts, weakness in the seat of power, with its constant necessity of deals and bribes and compromising arrangements, corrupts even more. In every age the vilest specimens of human nature are to be found among demagogues. Each person must participate in government to affirm its support by the citizens or it will turn all its attention to the support of special interests which constantly seek favor. Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics, is the first task of the statesmanship of today.