&gt; <i>Sure, US democracy is badly implemented, but that doesn&#x27;t mean the idea is inherently flawed.</i><p>If you believe the act of dropping a piece of paper into a box actually affects what a politician can do, I&#x27;ve got a bridge to sell you. That&#x27;s what it would take for voting to actually affect something, otherwise you&#x27;re just engaging in a pointless ritual.<p>Of course it&#x27;s only pointless on the voter&#x27;s part. People believing in the idea that subjects have a say in how they&#x27;re ruled sure as hell benefits the rulers!<p>&gt; <i>I just object to libertarians pretending they can avoid it</i><p>In fact, I&#x27;ve avoided all non-governmental forms of coercion all my life!