The good of the many vs the interests of the few: how many of the debates in this country revolve around this? In autocratic or oligarchic nations, the few just make their decisions and everybody gets to live with them, so the scenario is clearer, but the outcome usually is not so good (or just plain lousy) for the masses.
If we can’t make decisions (e.g., immigration), how much better off are we?
And isn’t the banter of the many TV and radio talk shows an outcome of our more democratic/republican approach?