>The problem, IMO, is that we have idealised democracy and forgotten that, indeed, it "is a poor system of government at best".
I think the real problem is we think democracy is just a form of government, whereas (and this was known to ancient Athenians) democracy is simultaneously all about active citizen participation.
If people just vote once in 4 years, and at best do a few protesting here and there in insignificant numbers compared to the total number of citizens, then that's not any a democracy in the original sense, though we might call it that.
I think the real problem is we think democracy is just a form of government, whereas (and this was known to ancient Athenians) democracy is simultaneously all about active citizen participation.
If people just vote once in 4 years, and at best do a few protesting here and there in insignificant numbers compared to the total number of citizens, then that's not any a democracy in the original sense, though we might call it that.