I understand your point. But why do you propose a wise dictator as an alternative. My old country had quite a share of wise dictators from Lenin through Stalin through Brezhnev. By accident of birth, I lived under wise dictator Brezhnev, my parents under the wisest of them all, Stalin. All wise dictators always devolve into bloody monsters if unchecked. Is that what we want for America?
I don't propose that. I am just making a factually correct observation. And even countries and tribes fall on account of eventually succumbing to corrupt and incompetent leadership.
It is very difficult to balance will of the people with good governance. The mob is not competent or wise, so democracy is a for sure death sentence to personal liberty.
I disagree with your take that Lenin and Stalin were "wise," although I concede rhetorically they were successful. I meant to embody in "wise" the notion that the leader was a good custodian of his people as a whole. I don't view Lenin or Stalin as fitting that. Certainly they were "wise" is the ways of ruthlessly wielding power.