All systems are shit, but democracy on at least a local level is the best we got if it doesn't degenerate into an eternal stalemate, and that's a big if. In a "atleast make it a hussle for corruption to rise" deal.
Democracy can express meritocracy, because that's what voting should be for, determining who has more merit to take the seat.
I don't like absolute meritocracy aka. technocrats as much as I don't like anarcho-flavours of the week.

Politics a fuck and I'm glad I don't career in it.