The Democracy of the founding fathers was Greek Democracy, predicated upon a slave society, and restricted to only the elite. This is the society we live in today, even with our reforms towards direct representation. The system is inherently biased towards the election of elites and against the representation of the masses. Hamilton called it “faction” when the working class got together and demanded better conditions, and mechanisms were built in (which still exist to this day) that serve to ensure the continued dominance of the elite over the masses. The suffering of the many is intentional. The opulence of the wealthy is also. This is the intended outcome.
You're ultimately right. Though, as you said in current mentality, if there is a way to be more equal someone will do it. Civic centers like that would have to be reformed after whatever new way lf things comes next. I'd imagine our descendants will have to squat in our ruins before that also happens.