For most of recorded history, we homo sapiens have been led by autocrats. We have organized ourselves under tribes led by chiefs and kingdoms led by kings. Life under autocrats was better than life under chaos before civilization. It never was fair or nice, but it suited the nature we inherited from our herding animal ancestors, who followed their leaders. Those who strayed from the herd died young.

Then, two centuries ago along came a better idea, democracy. No more kings—let the people rule themselves. That was yesterday in history time. Democracy was a radical invention then, born through violent revolutions, over and over.