The kind of majoritarianism he dislikes is bad, though, so I'd tell him he's right to be concerned for the protection of minority rights, but the empowerment of "the common people" necessarily protects all people, or else it would create a more powerful group, who could not therefore be common, so a true democracy is actually what he wants.

Ridiculous examples are the most fun to find some kernel of agreement and then spin to the conclusion of "you're right, anarcho-communism is the best way forward for America".