> These people seem incapable of understanding the existential threat to free society and democracy posed by limiting everyone's ability to communicate private thoughts.

Democracy only directly benefits the people, not those in power. The only difference between a democracy and a dictatorship in terms of leaders keeping key supporters happy (the people vs. just those that hold office and control the military) is that democracies tend to employ more creative people with society-enhancing goals, thus driving technology forward and maybe even extending our lifetimes (via better healthcare).