
By Selwyn Duke
Marketing is an interesting thing. The buyer always has to beware because labels and packaging don’t always reflect ingredients. Consider the following list, for example, asking: What’s the most common word among its elements?
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- German Democratic Republic
- Democratic Republic of Vietnam
- Democratic Kampuchea
- People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
- People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen
- Democratic Socialism
“Democratic,” obviously. Now note that 1 and 2 are communist countries, with the first (North Korea) being particularly brutal. Three through 7 were also communist countries. Number 5 (Khmer Rouge Cambodia) exterminated one-quarter to one-third of its population in just 4.5 years. They all love(d) that label “democratic,” though, even if the only democratic thing about them is/was, well…nothing.
Then there’s number 8, which is all the rage in the United States. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) now have, in fact, more than 250 affiliated or endorsed public officeholders nationwide.
The DSA, mind you, has called for the public ownership of key economic sectors and the “means of production” — a communist tenet. It wants to replace capitalism with socialism.
The DSA also aims to abolish or radically reform institutions such as the Senate and Electoral College. Furthermore, it would reduce Supreme Court power.
You needn’t worry, however, because all this really will be done democratically this time, they say. Heck, “democratic” is in their name.
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