I too remember taking cap guns to school. Teachers didn't care back then.

A kid brought a cap gun to my son's elementary school. It was confiscated and the parents were called in. A big memo was sent to parents for kids not to bring cap guns to school. This is all understandable.

"The oligarchic elite" has programmed the masses to accept that this version of American democracy cannot really be changed. Yes, there are Medium articles against the Electoral College and gerrymandering. These kinds of change are not likely, but even if these things do change, the elite is still in charge.

I generally do not read the works of political scientists. They have no clue as to what is wrong. But I decided to part with $35 to see where this profession is looking at these days. Here is my review:

https://medium.com/tiered-democratic-governance/book-review-open-democracy-769049d93101

Your article speaks to how our values have been shifted by forces outside of ourselves. The two of us grew up with cap guns, not fully understanding what these toys represent. More of us are just starting to realize what these toys represent.

In a like manner, some of us will have to question our 19th -century democracy, not on how to fix it, but how to replace it.

If we assume that western democracy cannot be replaced, then we are only acquiesing to the current power structures. These structures are not going to lead us to where we want to go.