Both are true. We are individual agents and a mob.

Democracy, as we all know, is the worst political system except for all the others. At scale people on average behave about average and make decisions perfectly aligned with their systemic incentives and available information.

You (and me) are not immune to propaganda.

Strong recommend watching/readingupon Manufacturing Consent and Chomsky’s life work in general.

I think that is a pretty hardline interpretation, but there's another way of thinking about it:

democracy has worked pretty well up to now and there hasn't been a better replacement.

That doesn't mean it will continue being a good solution as technology and society change.

Disagree. Democracy can basically be mob rule and still be “good” if mob rule is better than alternatives like “divine right of kings,” “rule by military despot” and so on.

> Otherwise, if democracy is good and votes should matter and at the same time voters are a mob subject to manipulation... democracy is what? A system of government by whoever can do better propaganda? Why would that be good for anyone except those who do propaganda?

Yes. And you are already waking up to that in your next question.

> One question I would ask if people are just a mob, who is actually pushing the buttons? Owners of media, political leaders, are also humans, no? They have the same weaknesses, at least in principle.

> If you accept some people are different (those who command and control propaganda) then we must conclude that not all people are vulnerable to it

Why would those who do propaganda not be susceptible to disinformation, or the Dunning-Kruger or Gell-mann Amnesia effects? Every person is susceptible to disinformation. The difference is that those in power can disseminate disinformation at scale.

> so maybe it's a spectrum. But still democracy sounds like a bad idea, as a majority are probably on the low end of the spectrum, and the majority rules.

Hence "tyranny of democracy". Many places in the First world are now experiencing this, where 'green' programs and and social progress are being dismantled en masse because of a slight majority. Worst of it is, long term these decisions will carry a massive financial burden. The LA fires with $250 billion+ in damages are a herald of that.