Which is why a democratic republic (which we were supposed to be originally) is a better answer. "Pure" Democracy isn't convenient with very large groups (country sized), and is just as subject to power plays (Two wolves and a sheep voting for lunch). Whereas the representative republic is supposed to equal a lot of that up, to ACTUALLY be more "democratic" and not so blown about by the winds of popularity and trends.
Sadly, it seems that you are correct, countries must be circling the drain before the necessary change is forced upon the bureaucracy.
Which is why a democratic republic (which we were supposed to be originally) is a better answer. "Pure" Democracy isn't convenient with very large groups (country sized), and is just as subject to power plays (Two wolves and a sheep voting for lunch). Whereas the representative republic is supposed to equal a lot of that up, to ACTUALLY be more "democratic" and not so blown about by the winds of popularity and trends.