Systems are responsible for nothing; only individuals are

Democracies are systems in which the individual holds power and creates a structure in which elected and appointed human actors operate on their behalf. Dictatorships and absolute kingdoms are power systems designed by or for individuals to rule a nation. Systems are divided into structures from bottom up (democracies) to top down (dictatorships and absolute kingdoms).

What seems to be a very, very abstract political-philosophical discourse in principle is very simple to understand, as every citizen in a democratic country feels the outfall of the system of democracy and its structures daily, often discussed in bars over a good chilled glass of lager or beer.

Democracies without political parties, only based on individuals standing for office, are possible but mostly unimaginable. Democracies depend on the agreement of the many, at least the majority of voters. Certain interests form certain political parties in competition with each other for the votes of the electorate. By e.g. German constitution, they are like a club with inner structures and rules given to them by themselves. Unless they are openly against the constitution, as Adolf Hitler did by using its weaknesses of it they cannot be dissolved but remain a party to the political dispute. Political parties have an inner structure, leadership and foot soldiers who impregnate themselves on a constant basis. The system which is intended to serve the people serves itself best. The people are the sovereign, as written in the e.g. German Grundgesetz, yet the articles concerning political parties and their position in the political life of the country, including the party parliamentarian statutes such as the whip - in constitutional reality - make political parties stand above the sovereign.

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Chancellors, Ministers, etc. are born out of and bred in political parties, not by the people. Manifestos become the hallmark of political figures seen by the masses, while power structures pulling the strings behind the curtains remain unseen. What the naked eye can see is invisible to the eye of the many bashing against mistakes expressed in words and actions. The system of political parties makes it easy to play the blame game inside the system, from one side of the court into another corner without anyone really taking personal responsibility...the system has decided, not the person. While ministers and Presidents fall, the party will survive even in the shadow of flashlights awaiting revival. A system can be effective or not, but it cannot carry responsibility; only individual humans can.

Dictators, absolute kings, or Elected Kings carry personal responsibility on their shoulders. They cannot put the blame on others or the system. When they do good, they are loved personally; when they do wrong or worse, they are overthrown and sent into exile. Their systems cannot save them, while the political system of democracy cushions the fallen heroes.