What about the fact that most direct democracies, aside from making representative democracy look practical, all failed when confronted with the real world ?

Besides, having read the history of Athens, direct democracy can be described as mob rule, and there the problem of 51% of the population votes to kill off the 49% others was a very real problem. Every American probably can imagine the problems guilds created in medieval Europe, right ? Athens was a state where the equivalent of guilds could literally and legally decide to kill the competition (which they did, several times).

Besides, let's not lose sight of reality here. America would be a near-theocracy if it was a direct democracy.

>If the noble concepts supposedly behind democracy had any traction with governments, they would have led us to a direct democracy, not a representative one.

Switzerland seems to work pretty well by direct democracy.

Well, I was curious of what you mentioned, so I looked it up. Switzerland is a Federal multi-party directorial republic with elements of direct democracy.

I do recall reading up on that recent referendum they had about the capping of CEO wages that didn't go through. But thanks for the heads up, I'll look into what they have going on over there with their flavor of democracy.

We also voted against an extra week of vacation here in Switzerland. And we decided to forbid the construction of minarets, a sad low-point in the history of our democracy. But you know what? It keeps everyone involved and engaged in political matters. Because in principle anyone can make a proposal, collect enough signatures, and there will be a binding vote. The mentality is "we control the government". Of course, there is still the manipulation of the masses, politicians prefer to re-interpret what we voted about (they aren't allowed, but often there is some gray area and they can delay things), and sometimes a majority decision seems to be a very bad emotional one. But in contrary to Germany, people here feel more in control over the government, rather than being helpless observers. If you don't like something, stop complaining and start collecting signatures. I'm usually not very patriotic, but if you want to take my direct vote away, you can pry it out of my dead hands.