one thing i keep thinking about is how there is simply no way to design a constitutional system that can resist authoritarian incursion if participants in that system do not actually care that much

Proportional representation is a great long-term plan for when/if we get the chance to reform our democratic processes. This article gives a great description of it for those who've never heard of it!!

How to Fix America’s Two-Party Problem www.nytimes.com/interactive/...