This speaks more to the limitations of the technology than the imaginations of the writers. There are other games in which the 'people' have greater agency. They can go on strike, they can riot, they can leave your city or country. I even think there is at least one where you can lose by being overthrown or voted out of power. The Civilisation series is admired and rightly so, as a fun and challenging game of its' kind. But for a different take, you can have Banished, Manor Lords, Frostpunk or New Cycle. The first and last I paticularly recommend.