Nor can they, by themselves, produce it. They are as likely to undermine as to sustain full employment, environmental safety, public health, social safety nets, education, cultural diversity, and real competition. Capitalism depends on such public goods for its private functioning, but it does not and cannot produce them. The quality of democracy, I believe, depends on the quality of citizens, not on the quality of leaders. All they have is their leaders.
Democracy needs effective citizens.
Back in the 1890s, the American populist leader Eugene Debs was addressing a a particularly grim meeting in a particularly dour era where things had gone badly for the movement. And even if I could, I would not. For if I could lead you out of this darkness, then I could lead you back in again. Charismatic leaders are problematic in a democracy. I am not sure what kind of future civil society has.