Spoiler: There is no protection from the masses if they get desperate enough and decide to flip the fuck out because they aren't being represented and have no real future the way things are going. The masses are the very same people who they rely on for food, protection, transport, etc.

This model is often referred to as a "society" and breaking the social contract with society at large is generally a spectacularly bad idea that tends to work out poorly for all parties involved.