isn't that democracy? sorry, no.
a few hundred years ago, the dukes of york and lancaster would have the occasional battle, and the winner would be king. [whence, "duke it out"]
they didn't fight alone, they called their serfs to come along spear in hand to fight for them. many died, the losing duke would be lucky to escape with head on shoulders. an unsatisfactory situation for all concerned. so the 'war of the roses' evolved from counting spears to counting votes. the serfs appear at the appointed day, throw their ballot/spear, then leave the nation once again in control of the upper class.
brits, and their american cousins still live in an aristocracy, not a democracy. the missing feature is citizen initiative. until a people have that, they are not citizens, they are just civilians.
