Pew surveyed people in 30 countries, asking them what’s wrong with democracy in their country and how it can improve. One answer came up almost universally:
PEOPLE.
The politicians themselves are fucked. If you could replace them with competent sane humans, things would improve. Below this top answer, each country had different secondary answers.
Meanwhile, commentators continue to miss the point with endless useless debates about ISMS. Capitalism vs socialism vs fascism. Democrats vs Republicans vs Green vs Libertarian.
History is clear, and Machiavelli made it even clearer. His book is about the PERSONALITY of the ruler.
Any system can do a good job if the rulers are sane people with a sense of service. Any system will produce genocide if the rulers are insane devils.
OCKHAM. The system is an unnecessary entity. The personality of the ruler is the only important variable.
Polistra's Mill 