Surface-level democracy that disguises an underlying regime which holds the real power is a very common pattern. In these situations, we should call a spade a s

Surface-level democracy that disguises an underlying regime which holds the real power is a very common pattern. In these situations, we should call a spade a spade, not give into propaganda that calls the government a democracy. For a US example, try voting the NSA or military industrial complex out of office. Real functioning democracy is a very rare thing in this world. We don't get anywhere by pretending otherwise.