The issue is that those in power can seize power from the people without the people knowing as long as there isn't some huge mistake. Once there's a mistake/catastrophe/whatever, those in power come under scrutiny of the public, and changes get made.

So my fear would be that everyone continues on in complacency, and one day we wake up and realize we live in an authoritarian state, where mass catastrophies can occur and no one can do anything about it.

I don't want people to get hurt or die, but I also don't want power to be quietly seized by the few.