&gt; &quot;Now you&#x27;re implicitly allotting power to those with the charisma and reach to sway others&quot;<p>Persuasion is far more palatable than physical force. Furthermore, in a direct democracy, those with charisma still do not make the final decision, all decisions go to a vote. If an individual proves influential, then they have a level of power, but opinions that serve the influential individual at the expense of their audience are not likely to gain traction.