As I see it, we are talking about which policies should we enact. Should we send money to foreign governments, should we have Social Security, should we have food stamps, etc., etc.
Since these are issues that folks have differences of opinion on, they clearly illustrate the advantage of our governing system over others. You aren't forced to go along with an opinion you disagree with. Instead you are given a vote. You get to send representatives to debate these issues around proposed legislation. Their votes will reject some and enact others into law if it gets signed by that final arbiter of your interests, the President.
You have had your say on all the issues such as SocSec, food stamps, etc. If you like them, then your side won. If you don't like them, then your side lost.
Just because you lose, though, isn't reason to give up. You are still able to continue trying to influence the situation so that these things can be reversed.
The danger in our system is when that process is short-circuited by judges who force some policy issues down our throats.....like abortion, rampant eminent domain, gay marriage, etc.
They IGNORE what the legislature does or never give them a chance to even consider the issue.
Each time they do so, they assist in the destruction of democracy.
I agree in principle, but you confuse democracy, which we are not supposed to be, with a Constitutional Republic, which I hope we still are.
In the latter, certain "things" are absolutely impermissible, and are not subject to the whim of any majority.
For example, IMO, the Constitution forbids the federal government from collecting taxes to fund charity efforts because it is not expressly enumerated anywhere in the document.
In short, I "lost" the Social Security debate, but we have all lost really, since our government abandoned the idea that it may only operate within the boundaries of the Constitution.
Once the government makes up its own power as it goes along, all we are left with is a fancy monarchy in which the People falsely believe they have control over the government.