During the era of US imperialism as US capital extended all across the globe it could afford to provide crumbs from imperialism to financially ensure its citizens saw the bettering of their lives every year. With the material conditions of its people in abundance it allowed some form of political freedom. Since the neoliberal era and the worsening of living standards each year as US imperialism dies so too will die out the political freedoms that were allowed. And even then you still can't run as a candidate if you're a Communist in California

Democracy is not "letting people have their say". It is a form of state.

People forget that the word "Democracy" arose as a word to describe the slave state of athens.

Women and Slaves did not have a vote... and no seriously thinking person during that period believed that slaves, which were property, deserved one.

The State arose due to the antagonistic nature of classes and the partition of property.

Actual democracy is a class question and always has been. Under current US "democracy" this franchise does not extend to the working class and no reasonably thinking person should think so.