Thoughtful ideas.  Thanks for writing that.  I think that philosophically you are right.  Images of the Labor Movement come to mind where there was great power in the assembly and in your face actions of a bonded group of people against larger entities.

But our whole environment has changed.  I'm thinking (for a start) that these things have impacted our ability to use our democracy effectively:

1.  People are overtasked, over stressed, and find themselves with scant time to take care of themselves and their families due to long work hours, looong commutes in many cases, and extreme exhaustion due to stress.

2.  Lack of leadership in many cases to even organize grand public displays of disapproval against government decisions or corporate actions.

3.  Lack of time and energy to go participate in one even if there was one organized.  If you read up on how Americans are the hardest working and lowest compensated of the most industrialized or technological  nations, and are the most paranoid about keeping their jobs.  They often are so worried about keeping their jobs (this fear being mongered by their employers and the media) that they do not take their vacations for fear of coming back and finding they've been replaced.  They do not take sick leave even when they need it for the same reason.  They often work many unpaid overtime hours due to intimidation and threats from employers.  This happens in corporate work as well as government work nowdays.  And the incidents are increasing at an alarming rate. 

4.  Fear.  Fear of being recognized and then in some way retaliated against by the government, their employers, etc.  And fear for their safety at the event, due to the increase in senseless violence by unbalanced ones who seek physical revenge against people who believe differently than they do.

That's a start.  Maybe some other people have more.