Do you think **you** can become a benevolent dictator without ever getting corrupted or turn evil?
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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
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This post did not contain any content.wrote last edited by [email protected]
Sure, for the low price of a lifetime pension I'll benevolently dismantle the oligarchy; ban guns; make cars luxury items; massively expand mass transit; and bring in universal health and education!
Just ignore the claims that I've actually jailed or killed my opposition; held the families of so called "freedom fighters" so they'll turn themselves and their buddies in; made travel outside your area and healthcare impossible without government approval; and completely changed the history everyone learns.
Okay that's obviously pretty extreme. Just a reminder that if you're not careful even well intentioned dictatorships can be very oppressive. And every dictatorship is on a timer to a coup or revolution. And resetting that timer is not pretty. The only way off the treadmill is to have elections again.
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Yes but I would be incompetent to the point where there's not much difference.
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Pineapple is mandatory on all pizzas
(I actually like it no joke)wrote last edited by [email protected]Me too, little bit of sweet goes well with hot peppers. I like to lay it (and sometimes the peppers) out flat on a sheet in the oven to reduce some of the moisture content with a blast of broiler at the end for a quick singe.
That's it though, no more tyranny after the pizza thing.
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If you’re a dictator, surely you don’t have to justify any of your actions and just do whatever you want, right?
You absolutely has to justify your actions, you will only be in power as long as your subordinates will follow your orders.
You can't just do whatever you want, you need to have a strategy, now doing this dictator stuff right will give you insane levels of power, but you can't just go crazy and boss everyone around from the get go, you need to reward your loyal subjects and create levels of privilege and harsh punishments for the people to enjoy and stay loyal.
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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.
Ignore these naysayers. Tell us more about the hat.
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I'm less worried about getting corrupted and turning evil, and more about having the powerful people of the country/world go after me with all their might after I declare a transition into anarchism/socialism.
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only if you are somehow affiliated with the military (so they don't off you) and if you are independently wealthy. It's the trap of falling into supporting oppression (military state) or oligarchy (bruce wayne doesn't need to take bribes lol) that wrecks most dictatorships...
oh and lust for complete and unity power against the will of the masses, that's a problem too.
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This post did not contain any content.wrote last edited by [email protected]
Yes. I don't require people's adulation because I'm already proud enough (veering more into arrogance and never into the insecurity that's at the core of every billionaire villain we know), I don't love money because I simply don't like things like that (and would find it shameful if I did, I'm very Diogenes-coded), and I wouldn't overstep my moral limits because 1) I'm a deeply religious man who believes in the Day of Judgment (and I'm not stupid/weak enough to lie to myself to excuse my actions) and 2) I have a lot of experience suffering fools to the point I just pity them and wish them the best even when they insult/dislike/hate me so I wouldn't just emotionally lash out or whatever (that would just make me the more foolish one then and my clarity and pride will not allow that, you can see my comment history if you need confirmation, lol).
It's extremely rare to be in my position, and while there are a myriad of things I could not be because I'm just too incompetent for it, being a benevolent dictator is probably one thing I could be a natural at. I already naturally default to a very paternalistic, therapeutic role in both my friend groups and my family (regardless of age, with even my divorced aunties in their 60s calling me for advice and reassurance!).
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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’d do the same but at 1b. And then execute anyone that steps over 1B. It’s incredibly easy to not be a billionaire.
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Basically it is a structural problem that ensures corrupt behavior. A dictator has to direct resources to the people most relevant to their continued power to buy their loyalty, and away from everyone else whose support is irrelevant. Not being a scumbag in that position could get you killed.
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I don't think most dictators think that they're evil. So even if I say I'm not or won't be, it's meaningless. History will be the judge.
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I'd be awful
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Nah, that's why you set up a system of checks to determine if you should be assassinated and succession in case of it. Bonus points if your advisors assassinate body doubles to retire you instead.
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One can not be a dictator and benevolent
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There's a famous phrase: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It's guaranteed to happen. The theme is played upon in LOTR when both Gandalf and Galadriel refuse the ring, knowing what it will do to them. It's the most important metaphor Tolkien put into the stories for a good reason. Peter Jackson made those moments stand out, as he also understood the assignment. Nobody is capable of resisting the call of corruption when given absolute power. You are not an exception.
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This post did not contain any content.wrote last edited by [email protected]
I think I would last a little longer than average. And I only say that because the more power I get handed the more anxiety I get and I think it's the people it doesn't make anxious that are the scariest. I also burnout quickly though and I don't handle everybody being mad at me very gracefully.
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No because narcissistic psychopathic yes-men would flood my surroundings and I'd probably quickly become paranoid (with reasons to be that).
Except if it was in a Douglas Addams way.
