I really think this is a common misconception. The will of the people is often flawed, hateful or corrosively self serving, and even the wisest among us doesn’t really know what the best path for all of us will be. The real strength of our system is the regular and mostly peaceful transfer of political power, coupled with the wide distribution of that power. You are absolutely correct, power corrupts, great wealth often corrupts, the greed of people who already have far more than they can use or spend is unfathomable. And yet our system creates great wealth, and that wealth naturally concentrates in the hands of the few. Unlike so many oligarchical societies we do have a way of redistributing that wealth, through taxes and public sector spending, we do have a way to create pathways to success, through public education and private sector economic opportunities.

I started adult life at age 20 in a new town with a 10 speed bike, a place to stay, and a $20 bill in my pocket. I taught myself a trade and managed modest success as a tradesman/contractor. I have been involved in local politics, where the model of citizen democracy is still functional, and now that I am retired I plan to spend much time “giving back” to the many in my community who have a less fortunate start than I did. I have zero fear of Facebook, Google, and Amazon. Fear and cynicism are the most powerful tools that the powerful and corrupt can bring to bear on the citizenry. Citizens have the power to dictate events and policies, so long as they don’t get distracted or misdirected. Very far from perfect and yet loose enough to suit me, a very messy work in progress, just like the many remodel projects I tackled through the decades, some of which turned out great.