This may be true in a minor bubble. The population can only decide things if enabled by quite a unwieldy and brittle scaffolding (separation of powers, free ele

This may be true in a minor bubble. The population can only decide things if enabled by quite a unwieldy and brittle scaffolding (separation of powers, free elections, free speech). In a general case, as long as the living conditions don't get some sudden slump (i.e. if the frog is being boiled slowly) all limits are off for a ruler/dictator.