Honest question, why is democracy always the "flag" people wrap themselves in when defending these kinds of positions? I get that democracy is somewhat better

Honest question, why is democracy always the "flag" people wrap themselves in when defending these kinds of positions? I get that democracy is somewhat better than feudalism, but at the end of the day I don't really care if the king is standing on my neck, or if its a mob of unruly peasants. Tyranny is tyranny, and democracy has demonstrated a great affinity for it when it suits the mob. Democracy seems to be the best of the bad options available, but without the strong protections afforded by an deep seated respect for individual liberty and freedom, there isn't much difference in end result. If anything modern academia's treatment of "Science!" is a nice little peak under the covers of what happens when you let the mob make the rules - Thought becomes regimented to the point of absurdity and you either get on board, or get (thrown) over board.