Do you think **you** can become a benevolent dictator without ever getting corrupted or turn evil?
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I know I can but none of you power-hungry would-be tyrants better try anything funny.
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One week after I take power the megaprojects start getting built. Benevolence will be factored into budgetary concerns.
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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.
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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That is increadibly hard to do.
- 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.
- 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?
- Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
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.
- 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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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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I'll be happy to be your evil grand vizier, if you need one.
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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.
The shortest dictatorship in history...
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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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That is increadibly hard to do.
- 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.
- 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?
- Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
If you’re a dictator, surely you don’t have to justify any of your actions and just do whatever you want, right?
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This post did not contain any content.wrote last edited by [email protected]
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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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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I'll be happy to be your evil grand vizier, if you need one.
Underrated comment, power that sits unused will get preyed on.
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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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That is increadibly hard to do.
- 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.
- 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?
- Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
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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Don't think it's possible per definition of the word.
If you take into account the wishes of the majority of the population what sets you apart from a constitutional monarchy?
Constitutional monarchy has a formal de jure system that guards against the "monarch" going crazy. If you are an actual "dictator", you could lose your mind oneday and start doing a genocide.
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What's the point of being a dictator if you can't be corrupt? The only difference is that you have to remember this simple fact:
No one gives a darn what the dictator's bank account looks like if they have full bellies, secure housing, and jobs that keep them just right balance of desperate and productive. Do those things, and they'll cheer when you build a statue of yourself. They'll be overjoyed when you get yourself a sex partner. And they'll fork over money willingly. Yes, it's easier to be feared than loved; but if you just do your job, nobody actually cares about the grift!
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I know I can but none of you power-hungry would-be tyrants better try anything funny.
Pineapple is mandatory on all pizzas
(I actually like it no joke) -
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Nobody can.
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I'd like to think I wouldn't, but my chances probably aren't any better than the average person. I don't think I'd ever get anywhere near the worst leaders in history, but I wouldn't count on me being perfectly incorruptible.
But even if I was, that wouldn't be enough. Either I'd have to run the entire government myself, which is impossible, or I'd have to reliably find other incorruptible people to work for me and replace me when I die, which will never be reliable enough. If I didn't find incorruptible people, what's to stop them getting bribed into not letting me do anything until I let the corrupt people have their way?
Corruption is easy to solve. Legalize offering bribes. Pay a large reward to anyone that can prove a bribe was accepted. Execute anyone that accepts bribes.
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I would instantly be assassinated for helping out people too much and handing too much power to workers syndicates
