True Democrats

The True Democrats (officially known as the Democratic Party) are a political party in the United Republics, unique among the major parties due to its distinctly capitalist and anti-socialist ideology. Formed out of the remnants of the former Democratic and Republican parties that both opposed the MacArthur Putsch as well as what they viewed as 'capitulation' by the members who would form the Democratic-Republican Party, the True Democrats are the party of perpetual Right opposition. They have long been the target of suspicion by citizens and officials of the United Republics as a source of political reaction, and in the past were accused of helping to support reactionary terrorist organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Sons of Liberty.

In the 1980's, declassified materials dating from J. Edgar Hoover's tenure as head of StateSec revealed another part of the True Democrats' origin story. Believing that it was better to bottleneck any potential opposition from reactionary political elements, the True Democrats political organization received generous funds from StateSec for the purpose of acting as a 'draintrap' that could be used to monitor reactionary dissidents. It was often said that "at least half" of TD's membership were either StateSec agents or informants.

During World War II, the True Democrats were banned entirely as a precautionary measure against a fascist fifth column operating against them. Even prior to his, there had been several temporary bans in certain jurdisctions and other restrictions placed on their activity during the 1930s. After the war, General Secretary Martin Dies, Jr. retired, leaving the party in the hands of South Carolina Congressman Strom Thurmond, who would lead the party until his death in 2001, in spite of splits, continued trouble with the Directorate for State Security and, during the 1980's and 1990's, his own age and declining health.

Today, the True Democrats still exist as a political party, but have largely remained out of power and their influence is considered middling at best. The government of the United Republics have often pointed to the True Democrats as an example of their country's dedication to political liberty, even for those they disagree with. More critical observers in the Franco-British Union and the Alliance of Free States have instead countered that the True Democrats exist solely as a cynical ploy to keep any true political opposition to a minimum. The fact that the True Democrats have never been terribly popular at the polls rarely enters the discussion.