Fiction is fact, and fact is fiction. Democracy is a more/less-property, not a yes/no-state, to be assigned to single regulations or systems of regulations. It makes perfect sense to say "regulation A is more democratic than B", i.e. based on poll counting to a higher degree.

Democracy is not the only criterion for a morally sound community, that is why most "democracies" have constitutions or fundamental law systems that are (hoped to be) protected against majority decisions.

There is no perfect system of voting and government, "direct democracy" and responsibility being conflicting ideals. But better systems than implemented can and should be considered, particularly with electronic communication available.

Who only complains about bad polititians, does not deserve better ones.