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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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  • D [email protected]
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    wrote last edited by
    #55

    Of course. I'd get promptly assassinated too

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    • D [email protected]
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      wrote last edited by
      #56

      If you are doing injustice in small acts then you will also do injustice in big acts too, Especially if you think you can get away with it. And person's view & promise about this does not matter, Because as Schopenhauer put it,

      supposing that we wanted to know, for instance, how someone will act in a position in which we intend to place him, we must not rely on his promises and assurances. For, even assuming that he spoke honestly, he speaks of a matter that he does not know. Therefore, we have to calculate his actions solely on the basis of weighing the circumstances that he will have to face and their conflict with his character.

      But I think person can achieve this kind of purity, by trying to be pure everyday. The reason i believe this is because i read a ancient Indian text called Mahabharata and it talked about a asceticism, Brahman, ashramas, double celibacy(doing sex only to beget children), mahaprasthana(means great journey, when person determine to departs from home and wanders around, awaiting death). It also had stories of benevolent kings, warriors & people showing uprightness.
      So, l believe, some people have attainted this kind of purity already in history & it's proof that man can control their desires and take right actions with impartiality by observing Brahmacharya

      So your question, if I can be benevolent dictator without being corrupt or not?, yes, I can be but this job is not best suitable for me because of my personality And currently, my time tracking statistics & recent actions are not showing good results.

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      • R [email protected]

        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.

        ivanafterall@lemmy.worldI This user is from outside of this forum
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        wrote last edited by
        #57

        You don't know me. When I have power, you'll see. YOU'LL ALL SEE!

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        • D [email protected]
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          wrote last edited by
          #58

          The trick is to set a reasonable limit for political assassinations and idiotic massive construction projects ahead of time, and then keep to those limits.

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            wrote last edited by
            #59

            No, because "benevolent dictatorship" can't exist (the only benevolent action of such a dictatorship would be self-abolishment).

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              wrote last edited by
              #60

              Yes, but I would try to avoid it as much as possible because that's what we call in Spain "un marrón que te cagas" that only demented people want for themselves.

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              • R [email protected]

                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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                wrote last edited by
                #61

                Only a hobbit with a true friend can resist corruption.

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                • B [email protected]

                  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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                  wrote last edited by
                  #62

                  If you're almost a billionaire there a numerous ways of hiding your wealth.

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                    wrote last edited by
                    #63

                    Me, yes. 😊

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                    • D [email protected]
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                      wrote last edited by
                      #64

                      Yes, vote for me.

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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?
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                        wrote last edited by
                        #65

                        One way would be to instead of putting a hard limit to put a tax to everything above that million or whatever number is decided. A tax on hoarding wealth.

                        The second point is the biggest issue because it could potentially make the place you live unaffordable by just being where it is.

                        That limit can be updated yearly following the inflation.

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                          wrote last edited by
                          #66

                          How many Philosopher Kings do we have here?

                          https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosopher_king

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                            wrote last edited by
                            #67

                            I doubt I would be a benevolent dictator. I am a good person mostly through sheer force of will, not by nature. I abhor cruelty — yet I'd gleefully inflict misery upon those who practice it.

                            I suspect over time that would erode the thin façade of beneficence within which my rage lies cocooned.

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                              wrote last edited by
                              #68

                              Yes, and it's because I'm too lazy to do any actual dictator shit.

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                                wrote last edited by [email protected]
                                #69

                                No, but I'll give it the old college try. I've always imagined that the only way to be a benevolent dictator is to do the dictator thing only to install a better form of government to replace you and hope it sticks when you step away. Something more technocratic and with better checks and balances.

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                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #70

                                  No. No one can.

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                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #71

                                    Bigger question is how long would you last? If you're benevolent then the people closest to you won't like you as their dictator because presumably you treat everyone equitably and don't keep a bigger piece of the pie for yourself and your confidants.

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                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #72

                                      Even if purest it is heart almost impossible. Main issue is the same with any govt type, corruption. Its easy to be benevolent when everyone on your side. They are plenty of animes/games like this.

                                      When humans are looking out for themselves any progress you want is water down significantly and now "cruelties" need to be enacted to make these types fall in line.
                                      Now it becomes do you hit surgically or with a hammer depends on number of factors. Like do you specifically know who or just the departments. Delays are problems because meanwhile these types are probably riling up the masses for their own ends or simply result of selfish actions. Massive pain in butt. Without something like a death note or really amazing internal spy network it be impossible to avoid collateral damage. Even then we are now down the 1984 rabbit hole. All because I couldn't trust the people I wanted to govern or fulfill my will. Massive Tragedy when I just wanted to give ppl the stars.

                                      Maybe AI govt workers to handle processing with loyalty chips could work. Until some jerk hacks them cause w/e.
                                      This why we cant have nice things.

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                                      • Q [email protected]

                                        One way would be to instead of putting a hard limit to put a tax to everything above that million or whatever number is decided. A tax on hoarding wealth.

                                        The second point is the biggest issue because it could potentially make the place you live unaffordable by just being where it is.

                                        That limit can be updated yearly following the inflation.

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                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #73

                                        This.

                                        Tax the crap out of wealth over value X, let the ghouls fight to earn slightly more, while the government gets plenty of tax incomme.

                                        This is what I like about the social democratic ideology, it has high taxes to fund a safety net, yet retains a market economy to bring in higher earnings and thus taxes.

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                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #74

                                          If society is at the point where we're making dictators then you likely have to be an immoral POS to stay in power. At every stage below you there are opportunistic people who want to take your spot.

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