The issue will always be reality. In theory, meritocracy and even geniocracy sounds promosing but so does our current system.

The reality is that incompetent or malicious people will always find ways to corrupt the idea.

At this point, I‘m pretty sure the only way to go forward is to think in new ways. Maybe general AI will work, or anarchy (more like anarcho communist probably).

We tried and broke everything:

• representative democracy - politicians lie to get into office and do their thing after
• autocracy - the person in charge freaks out and becomes a lifetime ruler
• communism - people starve while the politicians become rich
• monarchy - the bloodline will produce some idiot who breaks stuff - also no reason to be this rich
• multiparty system - will get little done and devolves into populism as well
• two party system - devolves into hating the other party

The real problem imo is that a few people just cant make decisions for the masses over an extended time. Its too much power and responsibility.

I‘m pretty sure a more direct democracy represents this day and age more since the majority sees how our world goes to shit.