我相信,翻译a pillar of democracy成[民主基础],错。
芦笛兄忽略了[a]这个字。因为,西方理论家们,经常写five pillars of democracy。这里的[a],指五个pillars中的一个:言论自由。是故,翻译to put the boot into a pillar of democracy成[推翻言论自由],或[不让人有说话自由],才算忠实(信)。这样,也才符合上下文。。。。she has spoken passionately about the importance of free speech.