people wonder, if democracy itself is unpopular, how can it be democratic to preserve it?

but democracy itself isn’t a choice, or as proponents imagine, a kind of privilege.

democracy is an obligation we owe one another, whether or not we feel like it or are fond of it. democratic institutions (bad as ours are) are not privileges of individuals but means of enabling informed, accountable governance. shirking costs us all a good life. u can’t morally, ought not be able legally, to just opt out.