Truly democratic governments would represent the will of the people. Representative democracy, on the other hand, often ends up being an elective aristocracy -- just like you say.
Once we elect a small set of people to make decisions for us, a political class tends to emerge (those with resources and time to spend their days wooing people) and it is their will who is represented by government. The people simply select the least worst of those options.
Once we elect a small set of people to make decisions for us, a political class tends to emerge (those with resources and time to spend their days wooing people) and it is their will who is represented by government. The people simply select the least worst of those options.