Politics is probably one of my weakest topics, so I would like for someone to explain to me why tyrannical dictatorships like the Socialist/ Communist North Korea often call themselves Something Rather Democratic Party etc.? Is it a cruel joke on the people? What is the purpose, and how does it help them keep control of the populace?

The most simple explanation would be that different countries, different cultures have different meaning for words.

Stretching this: for political reasons (manipulation) words are being derived from their true, original meaning. This happens in "the west" as well as in "the east", as anywhere in the middle. But preferably in the extremes.

I am quite knowledgeable on language differences, as I hold a degree on sociolinguistics and language, meaning, and understanding. But it still surprises me that 'cold' can mean 'hot' and bad' can mean 'good'. I fear there is more than language at play here. This is politics.

It is totalitarian doublespeak. I think Orwell described this very well 60 years ago.

It's amazing what one can make people believe by growing them up in that sort of atmosphere. Not unlike obsessive religious extremism. They are not crazy people. They are not stupid people. They simply grew up in a savage environment, and savages they become. Such a malleable creature if you get us young.

Take for instance The Democratic Republic of North Korea. It's a Stalinist Gulag state if ever there was one, but it is also the big lie. Tell the folks you are oppressing it is for the good of everyone, and hell they will believe almost anything.

The DKRP wants everyone to think it is all about 1 for all and all for 1, which is their view of democracy. In the communist state no one is better than anyone else and that is what they believe a Democratic state should be. Of course they are way the hell off base, but it is their view. And they want to make sure everyone in the world also thinks that is true.

The only folks they are fooling are those that live there. Of course they are also fooling those in the gulags, but that is a different thread I think.

thats politics,a game...you create a policy for all to follow,no-one likes it so you change the name,call somthing else and push it through regardless of public opinion.

... to remain in the 'good graces' of the UN...

it is much easier to for a nation to maintain charter if it keeps up the appearance of having democratic elections.

im willing to bet nothing gets lost in tranlation. that excuse might lube the wheels of bureaucracy, but its all show & tell.

(show me your hand and i'll tell you mine.)

we really have been suckered!how did we get here!

exactly. macdaddy, this is how. they lie. just like bad guys are prone to do.

with that much power comes that many secrets.

at some point, one would become a bullshit artist in the leading of any nation.