Democracy

CUT SIZE THE BUREAUCRACY - NOT NUMBER BUT THE POWER "If you are going to stop the functioning of all corrupt offices here, then you will have to first stop the government offices from functioning because most corruption takes place no where else but within the government..." -Bishop Mar Powathil. What has failed? Is it the state, the market or the people surrounded by it? Why do most people support privatisation and sometimes even nationalisation? Because the bureaucracy often fails to deliver what is expected of it. Bureaucracy, wherever it is unchecked or unmonitored, without any accountability, leads to corruption at all levels. India's most corrupt organisation is its Government. At the top...

Outside of the academic environment, a harsh and seemingly ever-growing debate has appeared, concerning how mass media distorts the political agenda. Few would argue with the notion that the institutions of the mass media are important to contemporary politics. In the transition to liberal democratic politics in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe the media was a key battleground. In the West, elections increasingly focus around television, with the emphasis on spin and marketing. Democratic politics places emphasis on the mass media as a site for democratic demand and the formation of "public opinion". The media are seen to empower citizens, and subject government to restraint and redress. Yet the...

So political comedy is your thing, eh? The purpose of this article is to help you get started in making political jokes. It is also an attempt at thinning the paint that is our polarized politics, if you will. I want to add water to the orange concentrate that is our unwavering partisan views and beliefs in the United States. In the spirit of the Gulf oil spill, I want to take oil and water in a jar, and shake it until I get conservatives intermingling with liberals in an effort to bring the two sides together. Laughter is a powerful tool and it can bring people together. Poking fun at our political beliefs is a good way of creating humility and seeing what the other side sees. I have found this to...

There has been a situation developing in UK politics over the last couple of decades, not of any one individual's making, but a corollary of disparate forces, which has undermined the principle of democratic choice; a kind of cross fertilisation of party policies which has effectively resulted in there being vitually nothing to choose, bar some irrelevant detail regarding tax and spend, between the three major parties. So prevalent is this that there are times when we see Conservatives coming out with policies that are more left wing than Labour, and Labour issuing papers more right wing than any Tory would dare. The Liberals meanwhile have their moments when they swing somewhere to the left of one...

President Barrack Obama and his cadre of supporters are finding their worst nightmare coming true: the global war on terror is not going away. The bad news for President Obama and the Democrats as the 2010 mid-term elections are not far away, and national security is gaining strength as a primary campaign issue, and one that will help Republicans. This could force Democrats to defend their long-held belief that terrorism is more of a criminal justice issue than a military one. Republicans see it differently - they view the bad guys as military combatants, believe they should be treated as enemy soldiers, and processed through the military justice system. President Obama established a new tone toward...

For a political science class, I was asked to investigate the relationship between democracy and capitalism; the quality of democracy is heavily influenced by capitalism, but to what extent? In "Democracy for the Few", Michael Parenti discusses the relationship between "want" and "wealth" in a capitalist society. To Parenti, "want" is concerned with genuine human needs, while "wealth" is merely the concern of profiteers, and capitalism allows the subordination of "want" to "wealth". He explains how a capitalist society creates an endless cycle in which the rich continue to vigorously prosper, while average citizens (the majority of people) are exploited, underpaid, or otherwise neglected. "The top 1...

Do you know that Internet is no longer a free Internet that everyone can share information with everyone else or everyone can freely publish your ideas or have your voice heard? As of today, the Internet is controlled by many Giants that can manipulate what we see, what we hear and it is the Giants to tell the public what is to be heard. What's the Problem with the current Internet? People may ask the question. True, if you are the one that relies on others to provide you everything, you may feel this way - it should be that. However, even you are one of the Google fans, Yahoo or MSN fans, do you some times feel frustrated that from within their search or web site, you cannot find the real...

KANO, Nigeria, April 22 - Nigeria's troubled presidential election, which came under fire on Sunday from local and international observers and was rejected by two leading opposition candidates. It represents a significant setback for democracy in sub-Saharan Africa at a time when voters in countries across the continent are becoming more disillusioned with the way democracy is practiced. Voters in Nigeria lined up for hours on Saturday, long after the polls were intended to dawn. There are ample accusations of ballot wires in approve of the ruling PDP gathering. More Photos Multimedia Photographs choices in Nigeria Enlarge this aura Christopher Banger for The New York epoch During the second part...

Together with New Zealand, Canada, and other former British colonies around the world, Australia is considered a constitutional monarchy under the throne of Queen Elizabeth II. The present Governor General, Quentin Bryce, is the Queen's representative. Australia's government today follows the tradition of liberal democracy, which allows religious freedom, and is committed to uphold the freedom of speech and association. The country today has about 20 million people. Australia's territory is made up of six states and seven other external territories and islands in Indian, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. The present political structure is a combination of American and British governments. The country's...

Although there are two dominant political parties in Australia, there are currently minor emerging parties that are gradually challenging the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition. Unlike the US, Australian political system supports and encourages proportional representation in all Upper House elections. Another aspect of the system is preferential voting which even makes it easier for smaller beginning parties to survive and be heard. In fact, multiple political groups are integral in Australian political system. These organized parties carry out several functions that are essential elements in the governance of the country in general. Framework of the government The existence of political...

es are a fundamental defect of free governments but they do not at all times share the same character or the same instincts…when things go bad, there comes a rise of great parties. –Alexis De Tocqueville Americans are well aware of the defects of political parties. Corruption, divisive partisan rhetoric, and misleading speeches from sleazy party hacks are on the news almost every day, constantly reminding us of the inherently flawed nature of political parties. As Tocqueville points out, they are an unavoidable defect of free governments. So how have we managed to get so far with this major defect? As it turns out parties are not always a negative influence on societies. In American...

sider the foundation of the Constitution .. . that 'all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states or to the people.' To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn .. . is to take possession of a boundless field of power, not longer susceptible of any definition. Thomas Jefferson, 1791. The U.S. Constitution had at its very core, the principle that power must never be concentrated in a single person, body, or branch of government. The temptation to extend and abuse those powers is irresistible. It was not just the fear of a tyrannical King or dictator, but of a powerful centralized government in...

People of Pakistan will Always Remember 16th march of 2009. The day which conveys the whole world a very strong message that the People of Pakistan are a great nation not a crowd. They have proved that no one can destroy their identity. Although the current pleasant situation in Pakistan won't be very much pleasing for the anti-Pakistan forces, yet for the Pakistani nation it all is like a great way towards development. The restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry has provided new thinking to the people of Pakistan. This restoration has on one hand restored their belief in democracy and on the other hand strengthened their confidence in the Pakistan army. Unlike its past, the role of Pakistan...

'Government of the people, by the people and for the people', it was Lincoln on democracy. The democracy that he defined prevails in his mother country, US. Thanks to the US constitution which plays the balancing act between the three premiere institutions of democracy, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary in the US with a series of powers given to these institutions to control each other, known as 'checks and balances'. Though the President of US is said to be elected directly by the people of US, it is an electoral college that ultimately decides who is to become the President. Election to the upper house, meant for the Senates is held once in two years; similarly members to the House...

Here in Georgia, the gubernatorial race is about to get moving towards the election of 2010. The reason I bring this up is that Georgia Congressman Nathan Deal has just announced his intention to run for Governor. He makes a good example for this essay. Mr. Deal was a lifelong Democrat...that is, until 1995. He had been elected to the Congress as a Democrat in 1992. Then, when Newt Gingrich became Speaker of the House in 1994, Deal had some kind of epiphany. He switched parties and became a Republican. I cannot say whether his switch was for political expediency or whether it was truly philosophical. However, a look at his voting record would show that political expediency seems to be the leading...

nited States has a unique two-party system, which can give power to one party or the other entirely. In other countries, there are numerous parties often requiring them to share power in a “ruling coalition”. It is difficult for a single party to dominate in these governments. Having only two parties gives the people a very limited choice. Young Americans in particular do not like to label themselves republican or democrat – and many feel that both are just as corrupt and incompetent. Without identifying with either party, many Young Americans become disengaged from politics - becoming cynical and apathetic. However, in the U.S. system each party operates more as a “coalition...

Let us see some slogans or sets of words that brought great success to the Congress party in the political movement in India after independence. POWERFUL SLOGANS AND SOLUTIONS: "Jai Jawan! Jai Kishan!" played a great role in parliamentary election once, when the burning problem was national security and the need for more food production. "Kharibi Hatoe" was key word in another election. 'Success to Soldiers! Success to Peasants!', and 'Drive away Famine!' are the two sets of meaningful slogans that assured 'national safety and prosperity' once and 'food for all' in another occasion. CROWD PULLING ASSURANCES: These slogans played an important role in assuring certain benefits to the society as a...

1789-1860 America was the first modern nation to achieve independence through a successful revolution against colonial rule. Many other colonies have subsequently won independence, but few have been as successful in subsequent economic and political development. [1]. Within America, the two political thoughts, the federalists and the Republicans, have dominated the whole American political landscape since the second quarter of seventeenth century. And we see, International affairs - the French Revolution and the subsequent war between royalist Britain and republican France - decisively shaped American politics in 1793-1800.[2] Searching through the early beginning of political party system in...

Many people suggest that as democracy spreads around the globe, we will see an emergence of liberal societies. The popular media and the White House make this assertion when suggesting that as democracy spreads through the Muslim world, peaceful and liberal governments will emerge in place of belligerent and oppressive tyrants. To be honest, I believed it all myself until recently. But, as they say, hindsight is 20/20, and so a confluence of recent events have allowed me to see why this is not so. In addition, I'd like to take the opportunity to make the distinction between democracy and liberalism. Event 1) Two semesters ago, I took an excellent course entitled the Middle East Today, whose focus...

Ask some Danes in the street of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, about what is important to them. Many will answer you that it is important that we have a country that is safe, that all people get their basic supply of food, have a decent place to live and have free access to the hospital and to education. Many will formulate that it is important to them as Danes that we have a well-functioning democracy without corruption. If you talk more with people they would possibly argue, that they appreciate a free press. Everybody should be allowed to speak up and give their opinion on all kinds of issues in the community, including on religion. In fact in most cases religion isn't a big issue for modern...

It looks like we're still being victimized by 'the tragedy of the commons' (I originally typed 'again', but I guess this is more like an ongoing process). Remember that 'the tragedy of the commons' describes this phenomenon: since the promotion of the common good requires good will, anyone can subvert the common good just by behaving unscrupulously. Perhaps this has been going on longer than I've been aware of it; but it's now so open and pervasive that I see its effects everywhere. The will of the majority of Americans for a stable, responsive government is being thwarted by a handful of powerful and unscrupulous political hacks. The American democracy took root and grew in compromise. When the...

It is time president Kibaki and prime minister-designate Raila Odinga, stopped constructing cottages of toothpicks for Kenya's political posterity. By now it is apparent that among the organs of government, Kenyans trust, not the Judiciary, not the Executive, but only the Legislature (parliament). Parliament is therefore the only reliable key that can unlock the deadlock that has claimed over 1,000 lives and displaced at least 500,000 persons since the December 27thdisputed presidential polls. Parliamentary is the only viable and sustainable system of governance. It does not require concessions or memorandum of understanding andcannot fail when one party feels like quitting. A negotiated solution to...

When you examine the politics of Canada you must examine all the Canadian political parties both federal and provincial. However, the incongruity of parties among these levels of government can be understandably confusing to some, especially young people and newcomers to this great country. If you ever wanted to get a quick an easy summary of the political parties in Canada, you came to the right place. This article lays out in admittedly and purposely simple terms the ideologies of the federal political parties in Canada and provides a quick summary of each. It is meant to be simple and non-exhaustive. It is intended to act as a quick reference. I believe that the best way for people who don't know...

One very basic motivation of almost every human endeavor is represented by the question: "What's in it for me?" Though this may sound natural and humanly understandable in its simplest term, yet we are all aware of how easily can it deteriorate to its more dangerous forms - selfishness and greed. And especially in a power-packed field like politics, this bait gets all the more enticing and can potentially lure all kinds of fish within range - be it from the biggest ones representing the political candidates, both incumbent and aspiring, to the smallest guppies representing the supporters and the voting population. It is common knowledge today that the practice of politics in the Philippines has been...

Brazil has a diversity of regional political cultures. Politics in the states of the Northeast (Nordeste) and North (Norte) are much more dependent on political benevolence from Brasília than are the states of the South (Sul) and Southeast (Sudeste). Brazil is a federal republic with 26 states and a federal district. The 1988 constitution grants broad powers to the federal government, made up of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The president holds office for 4 years, with the right to re-election for an additional 4-year term, and appoints his own cabinet. Fifteen political parties are represented in Congress. Since it is common for politicians to switch parties, the proportion of...

ign="center"> For over a decade, there has been growing concern that opportunities for higher education to the weaker/minority sections of the society are rapidly getting eroded. The persistence of inequities is manifest in local and regional disparities of access, gender discrimination, non-affordable fee structures, confusing eligibility requirements, bewildering admission procedures, reduced government support, unabashed commercial practices, and lack of socially sensitive government policies on higher education. More opportunities are available to the urban population and those with higher economic status. Since the days of Kerala Education Bill case, there has been much controversy on the...

The U.S. Immigration laws were supposed to change considerably during the summer of 2007. Much debated legislation proposals were supposed to have been reconciled under an umbrella-version known as "Comprehensive Immigration Reform". These proposed changes, which were highly debated and seen by many as controversial, were supposed to expand the avaible range of legalization mechanisms, offer temporary work programs, increase options of alien children to attend institutions of higher learning, streamline and expand enforcement efforts by U.S. agencies, increase inter-agency communication, step up work-site enforcement, and enhance border security, and implement fixes to what were generally seen as...

Ethics is founded on the view that the values of liberal democracy should be rethought rather than abandoned on the excuse of globalization, or defended by an attempt to recreate the strong states of the recent past. People would, however, argue for the protection and preservation of state-based institutions wherever possible pending the emergence of new institutions. Globalization clears the way for the wider application of the values of equality, democracy, welfare and community. Most enlightenment values were claims for all human beings. The Declaration by the French Assembly was of the rights of man. The American Declaration of Independence held 'these truths to be self-evident, that all men are...

Our nation is under siege from within, and unless we as individuals are willing to do something about it, then we deserve the horror that will surely befall us. It is time for a revolution, hopefully a bloodless one. And we can all make a difference by making it count at the polls. Democracy is hypocrisy. Malcolm X orated those words repeatedly in a speech around a half century ago. And, given the state of our governments and their policies today, one cannot help but marvel just how correct he was. As prophetic a statement as that was, Malcolm X would not be the first person to warn us of government evils. No less a hero than Douglas MacArthur warned us to beware of the internal pressure from those...

Philippine President GMA 's exercise of her absolute power of Presidential Prerogative to grant Executive Clemency to her predecessor ex-President ERAP (who was Plunder-convicted by the SandiganBayan Court after 6 years of litigation) would make a good Case Study for all Students-of-Politics worldwide. Soon after his release from his privately-owned Tanay RestHouse "Imprisonment", ERAP (whose Political & Civil Rights have been restored) considers himself as a plain Citizen now free to be at the bedside of his "dying" Old Mother - and to pursue his publicly avowed advocacy of helping the Filipino Poor . If he truly makes good on his promise, convicted ERAP could be a converted...

In 1949 the constitution formally established a democratic federal republic and created the states chamber and the people's chamber. The third Party Congress in July of 1950 began to emphasize the industrial progress. The industrial sector had employed 40% of the working population, and was subjected to further nationalization, which formed the People's Enterprises. In March of 1953 Stalin died and in June of 1953 the SED announced the New Course, which was to help give workers an improved standard of living. The policy was initiated by Soviet Unions Georgi Malenkov, who stressed a shift in investment toward light industry and trade and greater availability of consumer goods. There were still...

The greatest force impacting media and democracy is the explosion of information now circulated via more sources than ever before. Super stations are buying up small competitors. Media powerhouses owning several media formats the American public hears only what the media giants want us to. The media is one of the most powerful and dangerous forces behind the growth of Big Government. For far too long the media has been biased on issues, certain political candidates and the two-party system. It varies from state to state or from one locale to the other, but overall the media has failed to give equal coverage to all candidates because it takes sides and advocates its own agenda. Raising ad prices...

From: Winning Against The Odds A Look At The Ron Paul Story Even though Dr. Paul was a presidential candidate, there was another aspect to his being a candidate. He shared the message of lower taxes, a foreign policy that is non-interventionist but not isolationist, domestic security, the rights of individuals, the economy stabilized, and government as called for by the Constitution. It is a message of going back to basics and having the country be as it started out. Dr. Paul is not out to reinvent government. He points out that government as we now know it is not how the United States was set up to be run. He asks questions concerning issues but too often his solution filled messages are blocked...

As time goes on you watch the development of human civilizations, we find that one form of government stands above them all and that form of government is democracy; a system of government, which is ruled by the people themselves; for the people and by the people. Democracy is a government of self-determination one, which is not ruled by the whims of the dictator or by the iron fist of tyranny, but rather by the will of the people. Every decade more and more nations join the free world. Recently President Bush stated; "Freedom is on the March!" And indeed it is and thanks to the will of the American people, our allies in the United States military weakened now add one more nations to that list; That...

India got independence in 1947. At that time Indians adopted parliamentary form of Government. This was similar to that in Great Britain. This system has served India well for some decades. But does it continue doing that now? Are Indians blocking their progress with parliamentary form of Government? This is a question that is being asked many times and no body has the guts to discuss about this in parliament and go ahead with change if found suitable. Why- because all parties feel that with Presidential Form Of Government they will lose whatever clout they have in government. How has parliamentary system fared in last ten years? It requires discussion. During last decade India has been having...

Dedication... To my street brother Twitch ("Brent Ballzner" to the police departments and governments)... The man who taught me how to fight with a butterfly knife, who always had my back wherever I went, and though he had lived on the fringes of poverty all of his existence, he will always be rich with friends, and his heart will never be bankrupt... And when I was taken from my prison tier, to go to trial, I looked into the court room, and I saw my brother Twitch, holding my trench coat and smiling at me, letting me know that nobody stole it from the squat... And there are few times I have ever been so cheered up. Introduction -- What is Anarchy? What is Communism/Socialism? Before I begin on this...

Well, our Founding Fathers sure seemed to understand the issues of power, dictator tyranny, human nature, primate politics, and government didn't they? Indeed, the documents they drew up were pretty decent along with their ideas for a citizen run government, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it. But before you get all warm and fuzzy, why not consider the challenges this causes, and what happens when a "pure democracy" is granted, when those very citizens are promised something by the duly elected, which they simply can never deliver, those duly elected being citizens. Likewise consider if you will the citizens who'd be so duped into voting for such non-sense, and the unethical citizen...

The American Democracy Institute (ADI) was founded in 2005 by CEO John Hart, with the vision that young people are a powerful force for social change, and can strengthen American democracy. They seek to facilitate people committed to working for the common good and help them become leaders by working together to shape the future of their community and their country. They provide social action seminars (workshops) for young people: local leaders of progressive organizations lead hands-on sessions where participants work on social skills, to help them become effective activists and organizers. ADI holds citizen summits around the country where one can find high profile, national leaders from business...

How many times have the "ISMs" been set by the powerful people in the history of life on Earth? Democracy immediately springs to mind because it is the "ism" currently in vogue. Socialism, Communism, Capitalism, colonialism, etc. have sprung up and all of them have failed mankind. WHY? Most systems have faults and weaknesses but the reason is actually that they are all man made. Some maintain that democracy is God made, invented by Jesus. Not true. Some of his teachings were in this vain, but he clearly held that we should give unto Caesar what is his, and obey the law. His most poignant message though was that we must love one another, live in a state of love. Doesn't democracy just try to take...

The presidential and general elections took place over a year ago. The Democrats got the White House. They have sizable majorities in the Senate and the House. Yet, we have never seen so much gridlock in Washington. Then there are the fringe groups, on both sides, wanting their pound of flesh at every turn, on every piece of legislation. If they do not get what they think is the only way to go, then no game. What? Well, let me say this for myself. I have strong views on the role of government, tax policy, civil rights, trade policy and a host of other stuff. But I would never want an administration to try to implement policies all at once that would embody the depth and extent of these views. Never...

Once one nation, the two island groups of Western and American Samoa were separated by a treaty between the three nations fighting to control them; Britain, Germany and America. This treaty, known as The Treaty of Berlin 1899, gave control of the Eastern Samoan islands to America, and the larger Western islands to Germany. Britain settled with no claim to Samoa in exchange for Fiji and some small Melanesian islands. In 1997 'Western Samoa' was finally recognized as simply Samoa, the name for which it had been known by the United Nations since 1976. Samoa consists of eleven districts which were well established long before European settlement. Each district has a main village and a group of lesser...

With the 2010 mid-term election campaign season heating up it's a good time to look at where the two different major political parties stand on job creation. It's clear that the economy is the most important campaign issue and the most prominent economic theme on most people's minds is job creation. To the extent that law makers can affect employment the parties have staked out strategic positions, which they hope will help them win in November. As someone who shares in the hope that everyone who wants a job can have one here's my take on who offers the best hope. To start with, job creation is largely a private sector and business responsibility. Although government financed jobs are just as...

The political responsibility and the role of citizens are cardinal points in the social structure of our society. The other factors which govern the awakening in masses are moral, spiritual, cultural and humanitarian values. These values are directly proportional to our domestic and educational institutional environments. These fundamental institutions play a role model in character building of an individual. The character which builds around this role model lays a strong foundation of a dynamic society. The society, in turns, will become a beacon of guidance to its people. These institutions get to boost when individuals and groups collectively contribute to the humanitarian values. The spiritual...

In the constitution of Islamic Republic of Iran, President of Iran is the highest elected official and responsible for the functions of the executive. The post has significant government influence as it supervises the affairs of the executive branch. The other functions of the Iranian president involves appointing and supervising council of ministers, coordinating government decisions, and selecting government policies to place before the Islamic assembly. Iranian presidential election holds great value in its constitution. The Iranian president is elected by universal adult suffrage for a four-year term. The candidates for Iranian Presidential election must be above 18 years of age. The most...

The indelible stamp the Bush-Cheney Administration has made on America and its global reputation will resonate well into the next decade. Without question, America has systematically isolated itself on the world stage and methodically perpetrated what is considered by many as the largest public relations hoax in history. This article sets aside the obvious redundancy of circumscribing the Bush family history and the Bush-Cheney ties to "big oil"; the Wolfowitz Doctrine and American pre-eminence; and American foreign policy initiatives in 1979 (i.e. alliance with the Taliban and Osama Bin Laden during the Soviet - Afghanistan War and Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War). In the past, American...

Most people don't understand the difference between a democracy and a republic. A straight democracy is set up different than a Republic, and a straight democracy can get itself into problems when it has a Labour Party, or a socialist party. Why you ask? It's simple really, because if the masses can vote people into office that promise them free stuff, then those politicians once in office do everything they can to make good on those promises. However, you can't make something out of thin air. If you print money it causes inflation, if you tax the rich it slows down capital investment. The more you tax the people, the less money they have, and the poorer they are. Once a socialist party or a Labour...

Democracy, according to Abraham Lincoln is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. According to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, democracy is a system of government in which all the people of a country can vote to elect their representatives. Actually democracy is the maximum freedom to the maximum people for the maximum upliftment of the natural beings and for the maximum preservation of the nature and natural objects. In real democracy, there is equal treatment to the people; everything goes fair and everybody is prosperous and happy. Democracy is a person's pulse and heart beat. It is only the democracy that guarantees people's rights, freedom and wishes. Monarchy or...

Senator Hillary Clinton is struggling to keep her democratic nomination alive today though she was the overwhelming favorite just three months back - in December 2007. The reason for this is simple: Senator Clinton's almost-perfect certitude in December 2007 that she would prevail. That certitude was reasonable by most objective measures. Senator Clinton did not come to that conclusion lightly. She came to that conclusion after evaluating her competition -- Senator Barack Obama (lack of national exposure and party network) and former Vice-Presidential Candidate John Edwards (has been there already and not succeeded, not a fresh face, a bit too populist) -- and after assessing her own strengths...

For years, many Americans have been worried about creeping socialism here in America as our government has started more and more federally controlled programs, and instituted more and more regulations in our lives. However, since Obama's election, the trend toward socialism has become a growing rush of "Lemmings to the Sea" with proposed Government control over most areas of our lives. Many Americans on both sides of the aisle have become more and more alarmed at this trend, making it not just a Conservative Issues Problem, but an American Problem. Apparently, some "smart" fellow(s) decided to try and make socialism more palatable to millions of Americans by calling it "Democratic Socialism". There...