Have to go with Ahaus on this one, it took me a while to accept that it has always been a front. It's part of the modern day bread and circuses. Why have we not had multiple revolutions since the civil war? Are we morally superior to our elders? Did we figure out a totally free system that no longer needs Jefferson's regular tree watering? No it's because they've devised a game where we think we are replacing government every few years, so it pacifies us into outsourcing our civic responsibility to them.

I will agree on your other points, if only for social cohesion and stability. Obviously democratic principles are important on a small scale, like your local city council, or the PTA. It can work in a small country with a homogeneous population. It's less important who rules than how much power they're allowed to wield. If we sufficiently limit the scope of government, and keep it limited through not letting them take our money, it doesn't matter if we have a pure democracy or a lifetime dictator. They can make whatever silly decrees they like as long as it doesn't affect me. If anything politics is probably a good sink for sociopathic narcissists - just keep them trapped in their corrupt bubble and unable to affect much change.

("Fair courts" are another myth however, and IMO should be replaced with competitive legal systems.)