Democracy, as practiced today, is no real threat to the ruling classes for two main reasons.

They control the dominant propaganda channels and thus manage the beliefs of most voters

They control the politicians who've aggregated our votes.

A paradigm shift is to consider direct democracy.

A system where we can be a delegate ourselves, follow the issues and vote. Or delegate to someone else, like a politician, if we can't be bothered.

The internet would make such a system easy, infallible and cheap.

This truth can only be held out of public consciousness for so long.

First it will be ignored, then it will be ridiculed, never work etc. Then it will become obvious, but there'll be a coup to delay it happening.

But direct democracy needs to be tempered by robust individual rights. Perhaps enshrined in some kind of simple and clear constitution to protect against a predatory and invasive state legitimaized by democracy.