I understand what you are getting at, however, your argument appears to fall into a logical fallacy under the category of "tu-quoque," sub-category "whataboutism." [0]
Instead of arguing against my point, you have raised another slightly related issue, as a deflection. Please address my initial argument.
While we ponder these significant issues, let's watch and listen to the most freedom-loving opening ceremony in modern Olympic history. This was a prescient broadcast to the entire world. (2024) [1]
That's not what whataboutism is. I don't care about democracy in North Korea for the sake of this argument, I'm just using it as an obvious example to illustrate the flaw in your own reasoning process, which boils down to: Just because a state claims to be communist, democratic, or something else, doesn't mean that it actually is.
It's even more disingenuous to try to use these inaccurate self-assigned labels as a way to discredit ideas those labels represent, but that's getting off topic.
Ok then. Let's get back to the original statement.
I accept that countries can call themselves whatever, and it's not accurate.
In that case, has there ever been a communist country? Is communism anything aside from a theoretical panacea, just like "free market" libertarianism? Has any country ever been either pure extreme? If not, what would you call them? Give me a few examples please.
I am not being snarky. I really want us all to get on the same page.
Instead of arguing against my point, you have raised another slightly related issue, as a deflection. Please address my initial argument.
While we ponder these significant issues, let's watch and listen to the most freedom-loving opening ceremony in modern Olympic history. This was a prescient broadcast to the entire world. (2024) [1]
Vive la démocratie!
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whataboutism
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hTMYk7orHw