Many people unfortunately still do not realize that only six major corporations own and control around 90% of America's mainstream media channels including TV stations, newspapers, magazines etc... These six companies are: News Corp; GE; Disney; Viacom; Time Warner and CBS. Here's one link of many:- http://uk.businessinsider.com/these-6-corporations-control-90-of-the-media-in-america-2012-6. Further, only 15 billionaires own all of America's news media companies:- https://www.forbes.com/sites/katevinton/2016/06/01/these-15-billionaires-own-americas-news-media-companies/#fca9567660ad.
In other words, this is not democratic in any way as the mainstream media is simply controlled propaganda to brainwash and sway public opinion in favor of those of the controlling elites. Many believe what they see on the TV news to be the gospel truth when it is often just a pack of lies and deceit. If a small ruling elite want to control a population then they must have control over these media channels and so they do, equally restricting any alternative views or opinions from coming out.
"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organised habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.
We are governed, our minds molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organised. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society."
'Propaganda' by Edward Bernays.
"War is Peace. Freedom Is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.” These are three slogans of the Party, Ingsoc.
(George Orwell- '1984').
"Obey. Stay asleep. Consume."
('They Live' John Carpenter).
And who created the "dumbed-down, public school educated population"?
Television. Radio. Newspapers.
The elite minority control system as you well know...