A Mirabilary Of The Passing Parade: Antidisenfranchisementarians

"There must be an informed and virtuous citizenry."  That is the heart of the matter.  I would add "involved".

Voting has become too important to be left to the People, who base their decisions on 60-second sound bites, 8-word bumper stickers, Facebook posts and Twitter tweets.  That shows that a pure democracy is bound to collapse – one way or another, from within or without.  We have been pushed ever further into a democracy – there are even suggestions that the Electoral College be dismissed.

We have reached Franklin's abyss, where people discovered they can vote themselves entitlements.    (He didn't really say that, but to make that argument is to "Falsely Appeal to Authority" – the idea stands on its own, regardless of the source.) 

Burke knew what he was talking about.  But even Socrates, trying to work out what the ideal ruler should be like, missed the point that – nowadays, at least – those smart enough and moral enough to hold pubic office are smart and moral enough not to seek it.