[VLM]

Your argument is not bad. However there is also a stability issue you missed. The fundamental reason why democracy is proposed or the american dream is proposed is pacification, just like welfare. A calm population who think there is a defined set of fair rules and a path for success don't revolt. Its vitally important for societal stability that the general public doesn't notice they have no chance for improved conditions, in fact things only get worse for them, and they have no input on leadership because they get to vote, but only for almost identical hand picked candidates. If you can't have actual fairness, or actual progress, or actual democracy, it becomes very important to make sure no one notices. The next few decades are going to be very interesting to watch. Can enough riots be prevented by reality TV shows and football games and iDevice releases, or will the cities and gated subdivisions burn from lack of distraction from the fundamental problems?