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  3. Do you think **you** can become a benevolent dictator without ever getting corrupted or turn evil?

Do you think **you** can become a benevolent dictator without ever getting corrupted or turn evil?

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  • ininewcrow@lemmy.caI [email protected]

    With my dictatorial powers .... my first action would be to seize and outlaw extreme wealth. No one would be allowed to own more than $1 million.

    All the money collected would be used for government and providing a Universal Basic Income for everyone.

    And I'd get a designer to make me a big fancy hat.

    S This user is from outside of this forum
    S This user is from outside of this forum
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    wrote last edited by
    #11

    Socialist doesnt know how the economy works

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    • D [email protected]
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      libertylizard@slrpnk.netL This user is from outside of this forum
      libertylizard@slrpnk.netL This user is from outside of this forum
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      wrote last edited by
      #12

      No but I’d like to think I’d do better than most.

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      • S [email protected]

        That is increadibly hard to do.

        1. How do you define what goes into that 1 million of allowed wealth? If I buy a house worth 950000, would I only be allowed to save 50000.
        2. what about if the house increase in value so that it is worth 2 million, should I just accept that I loose 1 million? What about stocks?
        3. Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
        little8lost@lemmy.worldL This user is from outside of this forum
        little8lost@lemmy.worldL This user is from outside of this forum
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        wrote last edited by
        #13

        I would probably also include the wealth one owns and not just money (because thats useless, they would just use a different currency) and set it to like 40-50 houses in value. If they own a company that gets bigger the country gets shares

        50 Houses might seem a lot in value (especially depending on what kind of building) but it already would distribute a lot of wealth + allowing the dream of being filthy rich with less consequences to the rest of the population

        Because its just an idea i dont think about the specifics of the exact limit and such

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          missingno@fedia.ioM This user is from outside of this forum
          missingno@fedia.ioM This user is from outside of this forum
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          wrote last edited by [email protected]
          #14

          I'd be too much of a lazy dictator to do anything truly evil.

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          • D [email protected]
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            wrote last edited by
            #15

            I know far better than to think that is ever possible for anyone, and I would never put myself in such a position as to be forced to find out

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              lennybird@lemmy.worldL This user is from outside of this forum
              lennybird@lemmy.worldL This user is from outside of this forum
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              wrote last edited by
              #16

              I think there are many people out there who could.

              To me, the problem isn't being a benevolent dictator; it's getting a benevolent person there in a benevolent way.

              tkk13909@sopuli.xyzT 1 Reply Last reply
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              • D [email protected]
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                B This user is from outside of this forum
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                wrote last edited by
                #17

                I know I can but none of you power-hungry would-be tyrants better try anything funny.

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                  misterneon@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
                  misterneon@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
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                  wrote last edited by
                  #18

                  One week after I take power the megaprojects start getting built. Benevolence will be factored into budgetary concerns.

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                  • lennybird@lemmy.worldL [email protected]

                    I think there are many people out there who could.

                    To me, the problem isn't being a benevolent dictator; it's getting a benevolent person there in a benevolent way.

                    tkk13909@sopuli.xyzT This user is from outside of this forum
                    tkk13909@sopuli.xyzT This user is from outside of this forum
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                    wrote last edited by
                    #19

                    Yeah the problem is mostly that benevolent people don't actually want to be dictators much less do what it takes to become one.

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                    • S [email protected]

                      That is increadibly hard to do.

                      1. How do you define what goes into that 1 million of allowed wealth? If I buy a house worth 950000, would I only be allowed to save 50000.
                      2. what about if the house increase in value so that it is worth 2 million, should I just accept that I loose 1 million? What about stocks?
                      3. Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
                      E This user is from outside of this forum
                      E This user is from outside of this forum
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                      wrote last edited by
                      #20

                      This is a delight, and you are correct. That said, in the spirit of this silly thread, I provide solutions, below:

                      If I buy a house worth 950000, would I only be allowed to save 50000.

                      Yes. It will be time to get some roommates.

                      1. what about if the house increase in value so that it is worth 2 million, should I just accept that I loose 1 million?

                      Yes. Or rather, exactly half of the house. Time to rent a storage unit, and put up some tarps to divide the entryway.

                      What about stocks?

                      Better sell some.

                      Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?

                      Cost of living increases have long been understood and easy enough to calculate.

                      But - when I'm global leader, COLA for millionaires will only start after exactly as many years as the local minimum wage went without updates.

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                      • D [email protected]
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                        wrote last edited by
                        #21

                        I'll be super chill to hang out with in my palace, while my Grand Vizier takes care of day to day business.

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                        • E This user is from outside of this forum
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                          wrote last edited by
                          #22

                          I'll be happy to be your evil grand vizier, if you need one.

                          W 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • ininewcrow@lemmy.caI [email protected]

                            With my dictatorial powers .... my first action would be to seize and outlaw extreme wealth. No one would be allowed to own more than $1 million.

                            All the money collected would be used for government and providing a Universal Basic Income for everyone.

                            And I'd get a designer to make me a big fancy hat.

                            tired_n_bored@lemmy.worldT This user is from outside of this forum
                            tired_n_bored@lemmy.worldT This user is from outside of this forum
                            [email protected]
                            wrote last edited by
                            #23

                            The shortest dictatorship in history...

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                              venusaur@lemmy.worldV This user is from outside of this forum
                              venusaur@lemmy.worldV This user is from outside of this forum
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                              wrote last edited by
                              #24

                              Being a dictator in and of itself is corrupt. Power and resources should be distributed amongst all equally. Vote for me for dictator.

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                              • S [email protected]

                                That is increadibly hard to do.

                                1. How do you define what goes into that 1 million of allowed wealth? If I buy a house worth 950000, would I only be allowed to save 50000.
                                2. what about if the house increase in value so that it is worth 2 million, should I just accept that I loose 1 million? What about stocks?
                                3. Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
                                mikedd@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
                                mikedd@lemmy.worldM This user is from outside of this forum
                                [email protected]
                                wrote last edited by
                                #25

                                If you’re a dictator, surely you don’t have to justify any of your actions and just do whatever you want, right?

                                S 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  wrote last edited by [email protected]
                                  #26

                                  I’d like to think so. When we read 1984 in high school, a friend and I were studying together. I remember saying (in my naïveté), “I loved the book and I get the history but why would you want to be in charge of a place that sucks?” She was like, “You’re just going to have to get used to the fact that a lot of people care about power more than beaches.”

                                  Well, I still think those people are foolish. I’d rather be in charge of my own tiny slice of paradise than rule over some wack ass dictatorship where everyone else is miserable. Not wanting to be in charge is probably the basic pre-requisite for being a benevolent dictator. I like to cook for people and stuff. I’d use my power and wealth to do that.

                                  That being said, I’m a dirtbag. I’d have a cool house somewhere with mountain and ocean views. Probably 3 or 4 beauty queens who also have Ms. Congeniality pageant sashes who are in charge of laughing at my jokes and charming me. No more than one or two rhythmic gymnastics teams that delight us all by throwing ribbons to each other with their feet. (Other apparatuses are cool too. Hula hoop. Clubs. Ball. Variety is the spice of life.)

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                                  • D [email protected]
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                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #27

                                    I don't believe there ever has been a benevolent dictator. Sure, some dictators resulted in some amount of positive change (though almost always limited to a very small portion of their society) I couldn't name a single person described as a dictator who didn't seize and maintain power without violence and oppression.

                                    I don't think it's actually possible to wrest power away from the establishment and consolidate it in a single person's hands without violence.

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                                    • E [email protected]

                                      I'll be happy to be your evil grand vizier, if you need one.

                                      W This user is from outside of this forum
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                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #28

                                      Underrated comment, power that sits unused will get preyed on.

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                                      • D [email protected]
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                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #29

                                        If you're offering me the job, I'll give it a go. I think I'd do a shockingly great job, but even if I didn't, there is no universe where I'm as evil and incompetent as the people who are currently in charge.

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                                        • S [email protected]

                                          That is increadibly hard to do.

                                          1. How do you define what goes into that 1 million of allowed wealth? If I buy a house worth 950000, would I only be allowed to save 50000.
                                          2. what about if the house increase in value so that it is worth 2 million, should I just accept that I loose 1 million? What about stocks?
                                          3. Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
                                          F This user is from outside of this forum
                                          F This user is from outside of this forum
                                          [email protected]
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #30

                                          I agree with your take on this. I think 1M is way too low. But 1 Billion... It's a bit easier to imagine the "you can't or the dictatorship will seize something" idea.

                                          The reality is that the wealthiest people usually influence the most

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