Full Idea
In a democracy, the people, which holds the sovereign power, ought itself to do everything it can do well; that which it cannot do well must be done by its ministers.
Gist of Idea
In a democracy the people should manage themselves, and only delegate what they can't do
Source
Baron de Montesquieu (The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757) [1748], 02.02)
A Reaction
This is just what you see when a group of residents manages their own building. Citizens in representative democracies become utterly lazy about running their society, so that they won't even pick up litter, or report communal problems.
Book Reference
Montesquieu,Baron de: 'Selected Political Writings', ed/tr. Richter,Melvin [Hackett 1990], p.116