Democracy in the long term will always devolve into what we have now. It cannot work in a modern context, perhaps in ancient times but even then it has failed and been replaced by other, more autocratic systems.

The problem is simple, how do you keep the oligarhical elites from gaining power and influence over democracy? The answer is that you can't. Simple things like campaign donations pave the way for a lot of oligarhical control. And no, banning things like campaign donations and lobbying is not only impractical, but such bans can be rescinded when the winds change.

Autocrats like Putin are more respectful of their countrymen's wishes due to a simple factor: psychological ownership.

To use an analogy, a house given to a bunch of illegals for free will be trashed while a different house purchased by a hardworking family will be well taken care of for generations. Why is this? The illegals do not see the house as something that they own and are invested in. Even if they own it legally, they do not see it that way in their minds.

The same applies to the democracies vs. autocracies. An autocrat sees the country as "theirs". It's something that they "own" and must take responsibility and care for, just like they would for their house.

A democratic politician on the other hand makes their promises, gets elected and then coasts along while trying to gather as much money as possible. They do not actually feel any responsibility towards their country or fellow countrymen, while at the same time facing no accountability whatsoever.

Western democratic countries represent the globalists and moneyed elites, not the people. That's why we keep seeing all these unpopular policies being forced through no matter which party happens to be in charge today.