That's almost exactly what my poli sci prof was lecturing us on today. A representative democracy may have its share of majoritarian rule, but it allows factions to compete and keep individual interests downplayed under the general demand. Funny, I actually like studying politics. For all those years I thought I hated it, only to find out I had just never truly known what it was all about. Maybe that's a good thing, since I'll be able to vote soon.