Benevolent Dictatorship of Malevolent Democracy?

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-17 04:43pm

Which would you prefer, a dictatorship where all your freedoms and rights are guaranteed, or a democracy where you have no rights?

In each you have equal ability to change the system.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-06-17 04:52pm

In its given condition, I would take the benevolent dictatorship.

But since you said we could change things, I would then try to change the malevolent democracy into a good one.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-17 05:21pm

why tho? in the process you'd be killed, and you would achieve just as much in the democracy as you would in the dictatorship because in both you get the ability to change things.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2003-06-17 05:23pm

kojikun wrote:why tho? in the process you'd be killed, and you would achieve just as much in the democracy as you would in the dictatorship because in both you get the ability to change things.

???

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-06-17 05:26pm

The dictatorship, of course. It's totally pie-in-the-sky, though.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-06-17 05:27pm

kojikun wrote:why tho? in the process you'd be killed, and you would achieve just as much in the democracy as you would in the dictatorship because in both you get the ability to change things.

OK in a MD you are`nt free and you`re oppressed and in a BD you are happy.
why would i want to change the BD?

Jadeite · Post by **Jadeite** » 2003-06-17 05:29pm

Sounds a lot like my nationstates country, the Dictatorship of Vernii, it has no political freedoms, but excellent civil rights.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-17 05:29pm

montcalm, who knows, but the dictator allows you to voice your opinion on matters of government and takes them into account properly.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-06-17 06:49pm

Ignoring for a second the impossibility of a "benevolent dictatorship" (let's say it's run by Dahak), I'd probably take a dictatorship where civil rights are protected and economic freedom exists. "Malevolent democracy" sounds just a fancy term for rule of the mob, and political freedom there is an illusion--you're "free" to go along with the mob or get lynched.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2003-06-17 06:51pm

benevolent dictatorship. the roman empire had its good points, when run by a higher minded leader.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-06-17 06:54pm

The impossible is my choice.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-17 07:17pm

RedImperator wrote:Ignoring for a second the impossibility of a "benevolent dictatorship" (let's say it's run by Dahak), I'd probably take a dictatorship where civil rights are protected and economic freedom exists. "Malevolent democracy" sounds just a fancy term for rule of the mob, and political freedom there is an illusion--you're "free" to go along with the mob or get lynched.

That is what I assumed...I would go with the BD, (especially if run by Dahak) Mainly because lynching is bad..

And on the subject of Dahak being dictator...

Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
Brüderlich zusammenhält.
Von der Maas bis an die Memel,
Von der Etsch bis an den Belt,
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt.

Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang,
Sollen in der Welt behalten
Ihren alten schönen Klang,
Uns zu edler Tat begeistern
Unser ganzes Leben lang.
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang.

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das deutsche Vaterland.
Danach laßt uns alle streben
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2003-06-17 07:17pm

A dictatorship, of course.

A benevolent dictatorship is the ideal system of government. It just... doesn't exist except conceptually.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-17 07:21pm

Much like communism. The power will corrupt even the best people eventually

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-17 07:22pm

Well..maybe not Dahak...I wouldnt mind him for a dictator...

Post by **RogueIce** » 2003-06-17 08:35pm

Alyrium Denryle wrote:Well..maybe not Dahak...I wouldnt mind him for a dictator...

Ok, I'll bite and show my ignorance once again. Who's Dahak?

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-17 11:53pm

http://bbs.stardestroyer.net/profile.ph ... file&u=967

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-18 03:02am

Caesar made a good dictator

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-06-18 03:28am

But Dahak would make a better one..Durandal I think would also make a good emperor. He has the intellect, and the moral integrity to resist corruption for some time...

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-06-18 06:35am

kojikun wrote:Which would you prefer, a dictatorship where all your freedoms and rights are guaranteed, or a democracy where you have no rights?

In each you have equal ability to change the system.

What is a malevolent democracy? Sparta where you're a helot? I can't think of much else that would fit that definition.

Peregrin Toker · Post by **Peregrin Toker** » 2003-06-18 10:49am

kojikun wrote:Which would you prefer, a dictatorship where all your freedoms and rights are guaranteed, or a democracy where you have no rights?

A dictatorship where all rights are guaranteed is an oxymoron. The whole philosophy behind despotism is that the government should limit individual freedoms and rights.

And vice versa - a government guarantees its citizens rights by virtue of being a democracy.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-06-18 11:11am

Plato's 'Philosopher-King' sadly does not exist outside of Republic. Unless humanity changes to a point where individuals can be trusted to ignore self interest in favor of the many, he/she will never exist. That being said the concept of a 'Benevolent Dictatorship' is nothing more than a concept.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-18 12:05pm

The Duchess of Zeon wrote: What is a malevolent democracy? Sparta where you're a helot? I can't think of much else that would fit that definition.

US attitude towards blacks in the south during the early 1800s is a perfect example of a malevolent democracy.

kojikun · Post by **kojikun** » 2003-06-18 12:08pm

Simon wrote:A dictatorship where all rights are guaranteed is an oxymoron. The whole philosophy behind despotism is that the government should limit individual freedoms and rights.

Caesar didn't restrict individual freedoms. Granted, its not a modern example, and is too rare, but I used the two extremes of the 'free government' scale.

And vice versa - a government guarantees its citizens rights by virtue of being a democracy.

No, it guarantees majority rule, not citizens rights. If it guaranteed citizens rights, blacks would have been able to not be slaves in the 1850s, or would have been allowed to go to nonsegregated schools after the emancipation. If democracy guaranteed rights, I would be able to marry my boyfriend. Democracy guarantees nothing but organised mob rule.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2003-06-18 01:48pm

RogueIce wrote:
Alyrium Denryle wrote:Well..maybe not Dahak...I wouldnt mind him for a dictator...
Ok, I'll bite and show my ignorance once again. Who's Dahak?

Dahak was a moon-sized battleship (literally--it spent 50,000 years in Earth orbit disguised as the Moon) with a hyperintelligent, sentient AI as its computer core. It's from David Weber's "Empire from the Ashes" trilogy. I was using it as an example of a benevolent supercomputer.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

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