The problem for me is to find out what that is exactly. The punishment suffered by the wise who refuse to take part in the government is to live under the government of bad men. That which teaches us to govern ourselves. We must put it our of the power of the few to riot on the labors of the many.
Freedom exists only where people take care of the government.
If there is a problem with democracy, the solution is more democracy. The voters should have a direct say on some issues. Under the old regime they were looked down upon by those who controlled all the affairs in the interest of slave-owners, as poor white trash who were allowed the ballot so long as they cast it according to direction.