@PBesso: That's why in Philly way back when the story goes that one his way out of the Convention's big day a lady asked Ben Franklin what type of government they'd created for the nation, and he replied,
"A republic, ma'am, if you can keep it."
That's also why the United States was quite commonly called "The Great Experiment" back in the day and why so many around the world were excited and curious about it.
It's always been messy AF, but as has been said, it's better than the alternatives.
@thedisasterautist I completely agree; Democracy is as messy AF, and the alternatives: No, thank you!
@PBesso: It's just that as a people we're supposed to have stayed self-vigilant, but hey, that gets old for most people. They get comfycozy, take it all for granted, and a fair swath find ways to exploit the democratic-republican system for fun and profit, which again is what was warned of at the outset by the people who managed to put it together... and why they made it adaptable but not fickle.
My money is on that it's always had a shelf-life at the end of which is reworking or dissolution.