We don't really trust the people to make the right decisions.
You have that quite right. All the issues you cited are major cases in point. War? We'd be at war with Russia right now over the Ukraine. At one time or another we would have been at war with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, North Korea, China, Canada, Japan (again) and Mexico if the passions of the people ruled. If it were left up to "society", at times in the not too distant past given a spike in popular passions, freedom of religion would have been abandoned along with freedom of conscience, speech, search and seizure, trial by jury. One good thing would be that well prior to Sandy Hook, probably in response to Columbine, guns would be out, but we would expect democratic votes to force opponents to surrender their guns at gun point Waco style. Irony.
As we have seen so many times in so many ways you just cannot trust humans with the tasks of government. Law must rule if society is to function without the extremes of tyranny and anarchy. In a direct democracy the rule of law is replaced by the rule of emotions. Everyone's individual rights would be trampled on sooner or later. Just look at the past passions that so grabbed society only to be quelled by law, court, congress once cooler heads prevailed. This republic has a piss poor record to be sure but arguably much better than rule by fleeting emotion.
We will have a difference of opinion on the role of the instruments of governance. I do not trust the inflamed majority to do right at any turn on any issue. History is too bleak to be ignored.
As for society getting what it wants regardless of the costs, having to live with the consequences ...
Government of the People, By the People, For the People requires government that will protect the People ... From the People. Remember that great political philosopher Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." That may have come from a cartoon but it was not said in jest. When it comes to human rights and the long term best interests of society now and for our children later, we are our own worst enemy. Direct democracy would magnify this most human fault to disaster.
But that's just one exceptionally eminent opinion. I'm sure there are lesser ones.
Edited by AZPaul3, : puncheashun