Chapterhouse: Dune - Wikipedia has some interesting things to say about Democracy.... and what they tend to turn into. Also all Mentat's seem to assume democracy does not work. You can search the term "Social Security" in the book to find out more.
“The tyranny of the minority cloaked in the mask of the majority,” Odrade called it, her voice exultant. “Downfall of democracy. Either overthrown by its own excesses or eaten away by bureaucracy.”
Idaho could hear the Tyrant in that judgment. If history had any repetitive patterns, here was one. A drumbeat of repetition. First, a Civil Service law masked in the lie that it was the only way to correct demagogic excesses and spoils systems. Then the accumulation of power in places voters could not touch. And finally, aristocracy.
“The Bene Gesserit may be the only ones ever to create the all-powerful jury,” Murbella said. “Juries are not popular with legalists. Juries oppose the law. They can ignore judges.”
She laughed in the darkness. “Evidence! What is evidence except those things you are allowed to perceive? That’s what Law tries to control: carefully managed reality.”
......
“First law of bureaucracy,” Murbella told the darkness.
You do not divert me, love.
“Grow to the limits of available energy!” Her voice was indeed manic. “Use the lie that taxes solve all problems.” She turned toward him in the bed but not for love. “Honored Matres played the whole routine! Even a social security system to quiet the masses, but everything went into their own energy bank.”
“Murbella!”
“What?” Surprised at the sharpness of his tone. Didn’t he know he was talking to a Reverend Mother?
“I know all of this, Murbella. Any Mentat does.”