In theory it shouldn't matter, assuming that 'the mob' truly reflects public opinion, and the government is 100% honest officials who work tirelessly and selfle

In theory it shouldn't matter, assuming that 'the mob' truly reflects public opinion, and the government is 100% honest officials who work tirelessly and selflessly for the people. In reality, you have to remember the principle of 'checks and balances' in a democracy. The government, the media, the mob, the judiciary.... all have voices and occasionally one prevails over the other, or two-or-more support each other. They can also resist each other - the judiciary can send a popular entertainer to prison, the mob can resist overbearing government action. It's scary in a democracy when the government gains too much leverage over the media, or the judiciary because..... then it starts to look like China :)