> even those without capital and moats still have the power of writing law,

In the country where I live, politicians pass laws to serve their corporate donors, not the voters. This results in regulatory capture, as the law works to protect the already-entrenched players. Democracy is just another institution co-opted by money.

I don't see any realistic way to use democracy to get out of this.

Especially with the way “the law” works now-a-days:

Donors, lobbyists, and ring kissers driving what’s instituted.