Hacker Read top | best | new | newcomments | leaders | about | bookmarklet login

Dictators can actually get something done for you, I'd prefer that to our current anarcho-tyranny.

"Francis's term "anarcho-tyranny" refers to armed dictatorship without rule of law, or a Hegelian synthesis when the state tyrannically or oppressively regulates citizens' lives yet is unable or unwilling to enforce fundamental protective law."



sort by: page size:

I've always thought being a dictator would be an easy way to get things done.

Yes, but there's some equivocation there. The meaning of 'dictator' isn't quite what you might think it is.

This idea that authoritarianism is a good way to get things done.... I’m seeing it suggested more and more. Is it true?

It makes sense on some level. But historically, is it actually true that dictators get more done?


"Dictators are efficient. Therefore, all efficiency is tyranny". Got it! :)

There is no such thing as a tyrannical dictator. Only tyranny. Ultimately, all tyrants enjoy broad support. The only way to be tyrannical is with broad popular support. Just look at afghanistan

They are a dictator sure, but a benevolent one.

> A well run “dictatorship” is much better than your average democracy.

Until the benevolent dictator dies and is replaced with a 'less principled dictator'.


Benevolent dictatorship.

Benevolent dictatorship.

I'd have to agree with your debater. By definition, the dictator is given control over you. He exist as a dictator because you are not free. Now that's different say from an elected leader who year over year gets re-elected because everyone approves of what he's doing. You can't say he's a dictator, even though he might rule as one, but he's not, because the people are in control, even if he has the same power to enact the same things then your benevolent dictator and rules for just as long.

So to rephrase, what would be the difference between someone doing exactly what a dictator does, same laws, same rules, but elected freely by the people, versus the dictator? It would be the freedom to choose who dictates. Thus, you would have one less freedom, making you less free.

Having said that, you have a good point. I think you're talking about the majority's rule problem. Democracy suffers from that, where you can't individually choose, you need support from others. Now some people have more power to influence, so much so, that they might be indirectly ruling. This practically limits you're freedom to choose who dictates. And given a majority whose singly influenced by a powerful actor, which doesn't listen to you, a benevolent dictator which were to be more considering of your needs and desires, you might actually enjoy your life better and practically have more freedom.

I think this is the situation we find ourselves more and more into. Strong actors are spawning, and they have such powerful influence on large swats of people, that they are tending towards partial dictatorship. Similarly, minorities voices are being shut more and more, so a larhe amount of people are feeling oppression, and their freedom taken away as they lose influence in the votes.

I think younger generations feel this. We need to find ways to reorient democracy, and keep its balance. If not, in practice, it can tend towards the same issues that dictatorships have, granted possibly less damaging, as it should be assumed that at least a majority of people will have what they want.


Controversially, ignoring ethical aspects, you could eliminate most violent crime by killing off the poorest people in each country. You could prevent child abuse by killing children. You could encourage any kind of behavior you want by randomly killing people who disobey your demands. Wouldn't life be great if you were an authoritarian dictator with no morals.

I'm making an genuine point about dictators. They are no more than gang leaders with a title.

A dictatorship is a human cooperation as well and while it technically has an ethical framework it's not exactly a victory of philosophy.

I think you could pull off a Libertarian utopia with a very strong, very cruel dictator.

Dictatorship

What kind of dictator are you talking about? Roman-style, where it could be time limited, or the modern version, of which there are many terrible examples before power transition becomes an issue?

You're right. I'm listening to the History of Rome, and even they had a dictator appointed during war to 'cut the crap and get on with things' in times of emergency. Time and again, it has been proven that a single benevolent dictator is much better for the country than a democratic system.

The only problem is that it's hard to find someone who does not fall into the 'absolute power corrupts absolutely' category, which is why we as a society are rather uncomfortable with the idea of a dictator.


> A benevolent dictator externally motivated by serving his subjects is a much better government.

Not sure that's generally true; a perfectly benevolent, non-omniscient dictator could be quite bad.

Not that "perfectly benevolent dictator" is a real option as a long-term form of government.

> for example, Jesus.

Jesus may have been perfectly benevolent, but isn't much of an example of benevolent dictatorship as a better form of government.


You just said not removing dictators is preferable to removing them, since all financial regulations can be evaded by dictators. You can’t name a single dictator brought down by financial regulations.

And bloody war and revolution is preferable to inaction, because every day is bloody under tyranny. Averting your eyes doesn’t stop tyrants from killing and oppressing their people.

next

Legal | privacy