For our first 120 years, we did not directly elect senators. We have not historically voted directly on laws, until the growth of the referendum movement at the end of the 20th century. And we have an unelected Supreme Court. Rather than suffering from America's undemocratic institutions, most political scientists worry about hyper-democracy. We have too many elections and too many elective offices - especially for judgeships.
Public opinion is monitored on a nearly constant basis.
Far from being disconnected with the public, Congress is overly responsive to public desires. In America today, we denigrate politics, make fun of our politicians and criticize a political system that has endured for more than two centuries. Institutions that work, like the Electoral College, don't need to be scrapped, they need to be celebrated. Long live our representative democracy.