[skinnymuch]

(1) is written as if other forms of govt like a typical liberal democracy in the west or Europe give their citizens much of a choice.

[myrmidon]

In a typical democracy you just vote the government out if it starts an unpopular war.

Even if elections are far away, you can just protest on the streets at basically zero risk until the government behaves again.

If you try the same in Iran you get murdered by the thousands.