[kelnos]

Collectively, yes, but not individually.

The problem is that the electorate tends to not understand the concept of second-order effects. For example, a college graduate in the arts might, directly or indirectly, generate more economic activity than someone without a college degree, regardless of the difference in income level of people in those two buckets.

[Muromec]

Then the electorate does not deserve that generated activity and it will happen somewhere else

[pocksuppet]

That's an odd way to say "a country that elects stupid people deserves to collapse". It's true, but it's an odd way to say it, and also quite pessimistic.

[Muromec]

Do countries actually collapse or it's another bit of christian end of the world lore? It doesn't have to be that dramatic to be noticed and course corrected. No, it won't be course corrected based on the hypothetical (even if it's highly likely hypothetical) before the feedback function slaps somebody in the face.

[pocksuppet]

Countries collapse very often. The land, cities, and people remain, and organize into new countries. Democracy was meant to pre-empt this with a regular controlled collapse and handover, like a controlled forest burn, but a democracy itself can also collapse.

[Muromec]

Mind giving two examples that are attributable to questionable policy choices and not the usual empire lifecycle?

[pocksuppet]

The usual empire lifecycle is caused by questionable policy choices.