That's an oversimplification. We have a big virtual stick, which we use to make some guys to register what we want on paper and give other guys real big sticks so that they will tell us to do what we actually wanted. At least, that's how it's supposed to work, I guess. (And it's also oversimplification.)
"give other guys real big sticks so that they will tell us to do what we actually wanted"
I think you mean so that they will tell other people to do what we wanted. Also, that doesn't change the fact that those with lesser power will be in a worse position to enact change. They will usually be on the losing end of "the stick".
> they will tell other people to do what we wanted
No, actually I meant us, but more as a whole. We all vote for laws that are mostly applicable to ourselves (except foreign policy). This is, of course, in theory.
I agree, though, that it's harder to enforce change if you don't have any perceivable stick. People in power can control elections, after all, and there's not enough transparency about what happens ‘at the top’.
