Our democracy is not designed to be governed by the majority.

[Atticus]

It is designed to be governed by the majority OF THE CITIZENS WHO VOTE.

Those who give a damn VOTE.

Those who don't are willing to let the crazies rule.

[anarch]

1. at the time the Constitution was written, it was designed to be governed by those who could vote

meaning basically male land-owners. And even still, it's meant to be a representative democracy, so it's not like "one man one vote" for every issue, and people would ideally elect someone honest and ethical who would do their best to represent the consensus will of the people in their district, and then with the bi-cameral legislature and "separate but equal" wings of government, the structure was designed to include a reasonable balance of power, to prevent some minority group from seizing control (I think they didn't seriously consider the possibility of large number of voters being duped or brainwashed into electing sociopathic criminals, because they figured it would just be people like themselves voting, and they thought they were the absolute cream of the intellectual crop)

And on the other hand, our nation's founders tried to include safeguards against mob rule, which I see as the main risk of having some kind of democracy based purely on popular opinion.

After the Citizens United decision, it largely doesn't matter even, since corporate interests have been basically given the reins of government and allowed to manipulate our legislators to do their bidding.

[genxlib]

2. With all due respect

It isn't designed for that either.

With the Electoral College, Senate imbalance, gerrymandering and state-by-state ratfuckable voting rules, it is completely non-democratic in many ways.

We have to vote in higher numbers to be in charge.

[Freddie]

3. It was (inadvertently) designed to allow for tyranny of the minority

Senate - 70% controlled by 30% of the population
2/3 of states required for a Constitutional amendment means 1/3 of states have all the power
Electoral College - yes land does vote!
And here we are with SCOTUS justices appointed by Presidents that lost the popular vote, taking away a right that a large majority wants to keep. Because they can.