The discrepancy between theoretical and actual separation of powers. Not only in the USA, but here in Germany too, the executive is once again trying to seize all power and push the judiciary and legislature to the margins. A development that should alarm anyone who believes in democratic systems. This makes the small victories for democracy all the more important — such as, for example, Parliament's rejection of the European Commission. Unfortunately, in situations like those we're currently being presented with by governments (I can barely stand to hear the drivel about "we are at war with terrorists" anymore — that's complete nonsense; people who say such things have no idea what war really is or have repressed it if they once knew), the other branches of power are often harnessed to the government's cause. An independent Bundestag that also contradicts the government, even when the government belongs to the leading faction, is just as important as constitutional courts that keep politicians in check. Otherwise we'll get 1984, albeit with a delay, but still just as Orwell once imagined it ...
You can find the original article at Schneier on Security here.