Most people probably think that democratic socialism is socialism achieved and maintained by democratic principles (ie) regular elections so theoretically the people can vote for an alternative (say, democratic capitalism) if things aren’t working out.
Think, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or The People’s Republic of China.
Get the picture.
Sounds good in principle but in effect it’s a bait and switch.
To the democratic socialist, the democratic side of their branding and marketing is a once off lure to seduce voters and accrue votes for something that is prima facie, appealing and whereby the customer can return the product if not satisfied.
It’s the mouse trap principle when the voter votes for the free cheese but having voted, are then trapped.
And yes, there may still be elections but tightly controlled and only with approved candidates allowed to stand. Or as Henry Ford once said: “𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤”
In theory at least no one can accuse the process of not being democratic. This is how it’s always worked.
A case of 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞, 𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄…
Or as Joe Stalin remarked — “𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭’