This is more or less the conclusion I've come to as well. All forms of government end up as aristocracy, including representative democracy. It takes a lot of m

This is more or less the conclusion I've come to as well. All forms of government end up as aristocracy, including representative democracy. It takes a lot of money to fund "grass roots" campaigns, think tanks, lobbyists, and political campaigns. Normal people get to vote, but they don't participate in any meaningful way in the selection nominees or the policies they write. If you really want to have an impact on politics, you have to either get rich or secure the backing of someone else who's rich. For the vast majority of people this will not happen nor will it be worth it. It's better to just hunker down, focus on yourself and your family, and survive any way you can.