I take your point about the fetishization of voting in the modern West. It is sometimes taken to silly extremes. And I agree that voting is not sufficient for democracy. But I still maintain voting is necessary. Democracy is government of the people.

Late Latin from Greek dēmokratia, from dēmos ‘the people’ + -kratia ‘power, rule.’

I don't know of any mechanism other than voting for gleaning the popular will.

> my opinion is that if you haven't lived under some form of dictatorship, you don't know what you're talking about.

I cam't agree with that. Your experiences make you special, as do mine me. But if you really believe what you wrote, no further discourse from you can enlighten me or others until we too have lived under despotism.