Illusion Of Democracy Poem by Ian (John) McCleary (Son of the Cleric)

Many countries can give the illusion that they are Democracies, but if you look at them behind the surface you will discover something different. Take Vladimir Putin of Russia who has been the president of Russia since the beginning of the 2000s. Though he has not changed his official title (though proposals have been made to change it) the amount of state power he has is incredible. Not only that but he has made allusions to Peter The Great to help justify Russias claims to Ukrainian lands. This exposing his imperial motivations.
He also uses state power to push his Russian conservativism on everyone.
Putin wants to bring the tenets of Czarism back to Russia, but without the noticeable flair of an imperial regime.
Of course most people aren't fooled by the cover, they know the kind of government he wants in Russia. They know how he is using government to hold onto his power.
It is as Gil Scott Heron said in his song 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised', it's already happened within. He has attained control of the government without the use of a violent revolution.
Behind that face of a dead fish is a man who knows how to center power around himself.