The question of democracy’s obsolescence is a real one, but I don’t believe the emerging complexity of life is the big issue. I do agree that life is getting more complicated, and, indeed, the law of diminishing suggests that the problems that remain unsolved in a mature democracy are the ones with counter-intuitive solutions. But the Founders were aware of the tyranny of the majority; they never had much respect for the judgement of the people, but they were concerned about creating a system that would protect their interests without allowing them actually to make policy.

Something has changed, though, and I would argue that information technology is the key. The ability to identify, reach, and weaponize the subset of the masses who can be provoked to stupid action has “improved” tremendously. As the old joke goes, ask most people whether ignorance and apathy threaten the republic, they will respond “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Social media has enabled evil men to find the subset of this group who can be misinformed and riled, and then to misinform and rile them.

Targeted advertising is the golden ticket. Before Google could sell you a list of hot-headed morons, the cost of organizing an army of them was prohibitive. But now, through targeted advertising, the math works out; the hurdle rate can be met, and the investment is made and pays off. That’s what’s new. And that’s what threatens representative democracy. Will we smarten up? I’m not sure. The 2020 election is the watershed event. Trump and Putin fooled us once, so shame on them. But if they fool us twice, heaven help us.