I'd honestly like to try a page out of Heinlein's book. No-one can vote, or run for office, unless they have served a few years working for the government. Prove that you are willing to put the good of the many before the good of yourself, then you get to help steer the ship of state.
There are issues with the system, of course, but most of the people in power today would not be in power under that system.
So you are calling for might makes right. I had hoped you had a better idea than that.