We KNOW democracy is bad for personal freedom, tyranny of the majority, which is exactly why America was designed as a republic.
The Founders knew their constitution would fail. Franklin said as much. It had many many safeguards built in, but they anticipated that eventually someone would find a way to circumvent it which is why the 2nd Amendment was given.
As time went on, progressivism has expanded the government, and conservatism has risen as a reactionary force, but one that merely bails some of the water out of the Titanic as it sinks. Today’s liberals are tomorrow’s conservatives.
Great example. Conservatives once railed against divorce to preserve the sanctity of marriage. When was the last time you heard about that? Trust me, the ‘conservatives’ of 2040 will be arguing against animal/human marriage by citing the ‘sanctity of gay marriage’.
Antonio Gramsci’s cultural hegemonic theory was what really killed America, because if the institutions of power do not afford you the ability to disorganize and then reorganize society (a la Saul Alinsky) then all you have to do is fundamentally change the institutions of power. Politicize the courts. Hand power from the more alterable elected bodies (congress) to the less alterable bodies (the executive, namely bureaucracy). Force all children into schoolhouses where the curriculum is controlled by progressives. Cede power to more favorable international institutions like the UN.
That is how you circumvent democracy, even in its refined form of a constitutional representative republic.
It is nice to be involved in elections, but at this point it is a formality. Nothing you can do will alter government within the democratic system. If America is to be saved, it will not be by politicians, but by the actions of citizens who do not fear stepping outside the system.