&quot;The mob is inherently irrational, stupid and over reactive&quot;<p>This was the main thrust of the monarchist argument against representative democracy. Most dictators have used it too.<p>The other one is that people &quot;are not ready&quot; for more democracy but maybe they will be one day. Mubarak favored this excuse - that is, before murdering demonstrators in cold blood who had the gall to ask for it.