North Korean Democracy: People as masters of their own destiny. Three parties, the Workers' party of Korea (private membership), the Korean Social-Democratic Party (private membership), and the Chondoist Chongu Party (private membership). First, they suggest candiates (we know what people want, trust me bro). Then the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea decides the candidates (You spoke, we listened). Then, the people vote yes or no for a single candidate option (Yes! or No, I prefer a different candidate chosen by the same people.) The mass line is when party leaders live among the workers, listening really hard to what they want (How do you do, fellow workers?) The candidates are elected to the Supreme People's Assembly (legislature). The Supreme Peoples Assembly says "no orgies." The Kiminlsungist-Kimjungilists say "Ah yes, the will of the people."
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[–] 3 points 6 months ago* (1 child)

It's a party but not a party? Now you're not making sense.

Totalitarian means virtually all political power flows through a single entity, typically the national government. Other sources of independent organizing are harshly repressed to the extent that they must be organized in secret or maintain an appearance of being apolitical.

I would consider the US authoritarian but not totalitarian. Too many countries in Europe to speak to them.

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  • [+] 0 points 6 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 3 points 6 months ago*

    Not really though. There are many political organizations who openly seek to overthrow the ruling class in the US. They do face some repression but they still exist and can organize openly and enact political actions, even illegal ones in some cases, though with Trump this is becoming more difficult. Organizing itself is not outright illegal the way they are in totalitarian states. However due the systematic forces that keep such alternatives from succeeding are what makes it authoritarian, among other things.

    I'll have to look more into what you're saying about the party. I do not believe this is correct and I believe the party enforces far more ideological constraints on its members than the US government does but I will confirm this. If they all have the same ideology then they're only different on paper.

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