I disagree. There's an iron law of oligarchy that, whenever a group of people gather, there will always be a small group of elites at the top deciding everything.
We must also keep in mind that the modern man is taught what to think by large apparatuses - mass media, mass education, etc. - that control many aspects of our lives. These factors, I believe, lead me to conclude that "the People" don't actually decide things.
For the most part people are content to live their lives as long as the goverment does a good enough job and isnt too control freaky people dont care but when things get fucked up they do change things and that can either be done peacefully or violently.