Both Spain and Australia are within the United States sphere of influence and that's just two countries. There are really only a handful of countries with actual sovereignty. The US, China, Russia, India, Israel and to a far lesser degree Iran and maybe Brazil. Even if all other countries were perfectly functioning democracies they would fall under the influence of one of these hegemons. This means there are things you can't vote for and more often than not your democracy is only tolerated and often defended by a larger power that is a democracy in name only. You are a mock congress in a civics class. Power always wins out. That's not a political opinion it's a fact. Votes have little to no power. Hordes of enraged peasants DO have power which is why they are placated with activities like voting. Artificial agency.