I'm very cynical towards democracy and think it can be very easily corrupted. Even by modern standards, despite the fact that countries like the US aren't suffering from downright terrible economic conditions, most people are terribly misinformed about most things and are controlled by a completely corrupt political class. Makes me think that only the most superior people should be allowed to rule, with a more democratic government being only suited for a truly advanced society.

That doesn't mean that just because people are great they can't be corrupted by their new power, however. But likewise, benevolent authority can in fact exist and most of the bad people we see in power right now are the puppets of a corrupt ruling class that most people are too ignorant like to even rebel against.