I’m getting too old for this ... stuff.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/greekfeatures/a/democracythucyd.htm
“There, far from exercising a jealous surveillance over each other, we do not feel called upon to be angry with our neighbour for doing what he likes, or even to indulge in those injurious looks which cannot fail to be offensive, although they inflict no positive penalty. But all this ease in our private relations does not make us lawless as citizens. Against this fear is our chief safeguard, teaching us to obey the magistrates and the laws,”
Because we’re tolerant there’s always some group of loudmouths coming along that we have to beat down every so often.
Here is the problem as I see it. Some "leader" comes along and makes a promise he can never keep. A bunch of sheep buy the lie and at that point are willing to try to become wolves. The "leader" stirs the pot then sits at a safe distance and profits from the discord even though he has never produced anything useful.