Aristocratic monarchy or tribal leadership with chosen consuls is also bad but preferable. It is much harder to buy off a king than democratic representatives. Also a king takes care of his property but temporary rulers of democracy loots. Best is decentralized city states with elite rulers. Because scale matters. This provides mobility if ruler, taxes or laws are not for you.
> Best is decentralized city states with elite rulers.
Didn't we already have that, with constant wars being the result? Why would these competing city states allow freedom of movement?
We need to make democratic decision-making better, not get rid of it. Good dictators and kings are temporary, you always get a bad one eventually and the system collapses.