what would you do if you were a totalitarian dictator?

[© tweed]

what would you do if you were a totalitarian dictator?

[Wonkish1]

what would you do if you were a totalitarian dictator?

I would first provide a date certain of which I handed over control of the country back to the people.

I would probably then draft a constitution that I thought looked good and would pass and then put it up for a vote.

Then I would fix a few issues in said country I thought were important and then exit politics forever.


And if I was a bachelor I would have a lot of fun on during my spare time. Who wouldn't want get with a dictator of their country?

[Wonkish1]

2 Chicks at the same time. I think if I were a dictator I hook could that up, too; 'cause chicks dig dudes with power.

[Hash]

A single-party: the Movement (or Canadian National Movement for Progress, Stability and Development - CNMPSD)
Ban the CPC and Ontario PCs
Send all CPC MPs and Senators to the gulag. Stephen Harper would be sent to work in building a super-pipeline in Resolute Bay and Tim Hudak would be sent to Ellesmere Island
Scrap most of the Harper government's decisions entirely
Kill off a certain few people who I don't like at all and revoke the nationality of a handful of old enemies who frauded the nationalization process
Hold a referendum on independence in Alberta and encourage them to vote yes
Maintain a huge personality cult and make reading my blog a mandatory course from grades 5 to 12.
Change the state religion to Collorism
Ban Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, make "The Climb" the official song of the Movement
Wear shiny military uniforms with medals and sh**t
Military parades on Canada Day and the Day of the Movement
And officially get all the hot girls I want

[Mechaman]

Partay!

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Some terror, some partying.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

I've given this quite a bit of thought.

My area would be Ontario, and I'd separate it from Canada, of course, on the presumption that other people would become Dictators of the other provinces. I'd be keen on getting a hold of military assets in case any of them decide to invade.

I'd also begin, in supersecret, a program to build our own nuclear weapons and do it as fast as humanly possible. With our high level of technology I don't see why we can not build one within a year. We have a huge north where we could test one and hopefully get away with it without anybody noticing.

I could combine the Federal and Provincial MP and MPPs into a single legislature with dual member ridings. I've yet to decide if these dual members would be elected in a block (each voter gets 2 ballots and each party fields 2 candidates) or in a General Ticket (two identical ridings where voters get a ballot in each and each party fields a single candidate) and that will depend on how my research over on the IntElect forum turns out as to which one is more likely to elect a higher variety of parties from each new riding. I'd also examine the possibility of holding elections for each at 3 year dates so each member sits a 6 year term. I'd lower the voting age to 16, and give everyone who votes a $50 tax refundable credit for casting a ballot.

I'd abolish and re-create the Senate to contain 72 members and be weaker. 24 members would continue to be appointed directly by myself to sit for as long as it pleases me. 24 members would be chosen, fully at random, for all registered and capable voters. The last 24 would be chosen based on who they are. They would be:
4 Women
4 Senior Citizens (over the age of 70)
6 Young people (under the age of 25)
6 Poor people (Income less than $20K, adjusted for inflation, each year for the past 3 years)
2 Current Military Soldiers (who have served for over a year)
There could be overlap but everyone must qualify for whom they are selected (IE many of the non-women posts would likely be female, but they are being picked because of their age or their income, not because they are women)

I'd replace the 13% HST with a 12% VAT, with most remaining exemptions removed.

The current Ontario Income Taxes, when combined with Federal, are like so:
$0-$39,021 = 20.05%
$39,021-$42,707 = 24.15%
$42,707-$68,719 = 31.15%
$68,719-$78,043 = 32.98%
$78-043-$80,954 = $35.39%
$80,954-$85,414 = $39,41%
$85,414-$132,406 = 43.41%
$132,406-+++++ = 46.41%

I'd adjust this as so
$0-$40,000 = 20%
$40,000-$80,000 = 30%
$80,000-+++++ = 45%

The personal exemption for Ontario is $9,404 and Federal is $10,822, both would be at $12,500

In 2013, Ontario's corporate rate is going to 10%, and federal rate of 15% in 2012. I'd combine these now for a rate of $25% today, and look at further decreases, but no commitment just yet.

Ontario has been a net contributor to federal revenue, it gives billions more than it receives, so despite the tax cuts we should be closer to surplus. I'd ban any further tax cuts until we can get out of deficit, and I'd remove indexation of the tax brackets for 2 years so we can dig ourselves out.

The current combined gasoline excise tax is 24.7 cents. I'd increase this to 31 cents across Ontario, and increase it in urban areas in steps to a high of 40 cents in downtown Toronto.

I'd mandate that the Ontario government subsidize $2 of every transit trip across Ontario, increasing with inflation. I'd also upload all the sh*t that was downloaded to the cities during the Harris era.

I'd move the Capitol to Ottawa. I'd personally take, by force if needed, the 407 back from the companies and it would become mine. I'd also mandate that the Ontario government give me 2% of all of their revenues. This would be my "personal budget" which would be spent on whatever projects around Ontario that tickle my fancy. I would have residences (normal houses) in various places across Ontario (Windsor, London, Owen Sound, Kitchener, St.Catharines, Brampton, Uxbridge, Downtown Toronto, Barrie, Peterborough, Kingston, Ottawa, Barrhaven, Sudbury, Sault Ste Marie, Thunder Bay, Timmins, and at a bunker in the far north) All of my housing, food, drink, transportation costs, and clothing would be covered out of that "personal budget" of mine. Anything else would need to be covered out of my "salary" would be pegged at mean wage a year (around 40K). Every penny I spend out of either of my personal budget or my salary would be 100% public.

I'd appoint a Regent to serve as the Lt.Gov and Gov.Gen has - and I'd one of the current of those to do that job. The regent would sign off, without question, on bills on my behalf unless I specifically tell him not to. I would retain the right to veto bills, and only a unanimous vote from the house could over-rule me, and force the Regent to sign despite my objections. I'd also have an honorary Senate seat, and the ability to strike joint senate-house committees to examine whatever I feel like. I could also submit bills to the house and senate whenever I feel like.

I'd begin, one by one, to sit down and work out every native land claim across Ontario, starting with the reserves who do not make trouble. I'd be very friendly towards their claims and give them greater freedoms rights and incomes. I'd also keep track of which reserves reject census takers for the 2016 census, and those reserves would go on my "naughty list", along with any reserve illegally occupying any land they do not own. Once I've finished all the land-claims of the reserves that behave, I will hope the naughty ones would have learned their lesson and smartened up, and if they let in 2021 census takers, I'll settle with them. If they do not, I'll reroute highway, hydro, and rail lines away from their reserves, and put up army postings to ensure they do not try anything crazy. If however they continue to occupy land outside their reserve, and refuse to submit to my authority, I will give them a final warning - get in line by 2026 or I will invade. If they refuse to get in line, I will invade, guns blazing, and disband the reserve. I only expect 2 reserves to be problematic, and hopefully they'll see the wisdom in acting like adults and not children.

I'd put all the funding needed to build extra connections to the USA especially in and around Detroit and other parts of Michigan. I'd also build new highways as noted on the map below. Note that this map also shows where I'd improve highways to freeway status.
MAP
As well as further maps I'll attach within the day


I'd improve transit as noted on the map below.
MAP
As well as further maps I'll attach within the day.


I would for the most part allow the legislature to continue to operate in a democratic manner even if they propose silly ideas like "civil rights" - so long as they can prove to me that these ideas have public backing.


Lastly, starting, at the latest, in 2030, if not earlier, I will stop collecting 2% from the budget, and freeze it at a set amount not indexed to inflation. By 2050 I expect Ontario to be a world leader.

[Platypus]

Go into massive debt building heaps and heaps of infrastructure, and resign to let the others curse and praise the legacy.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

my local transit plan
MAP

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Consolidate my position in power, obviously. I would start my eliminating my known enemies, both within the Party and outside it. I would then set up a state-of-the-art secret police so that I could eliminate future enemies before they even become enemies. I would also have regular purges of the Party, of government and whatever is left of civil society; you simply have to keep people on their toes. This would include setting up and controlling dissident organisations, and crushing the rest. Naturally, I would also have multiple escape plans.

I would also cultivate a loyal band of cronies, although I would try to make sure that at least some are of above average intelligence. They would be well rewarded, would be up to their neck in any dubious things I do, but would also understand that they are not immune. I would also try to make sure that a majority of the population benefit, in some way, from my regime, and would also try to amuse them from time to time with 'crazy' decrees. It would also be important to pick international allies and to work out which big players it is safe to insult.

In other words, I would act exactly as I have done as International Elections moderator.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

Am I the only one who'd not use the position for terror/sex?

[Insula Dei]

Mostly mass murder.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Write rambling kitsch essays and declarations extolling my genius, of course. So basically it would be like the internet, but with one person.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Well first I'd start a party called something like the Revolutionary People's Party. Then the Party would take control of all media and establish a political machine that we'd use to control like 80% of seats in Parliament. I'd probably become PM and then appoint a figurehead President so I could take a break and do whatever I wanted (like host SNL) while I'd have someone else take over as PM. Probably let the opposition get something like 20% of seats in Parliament. Similiar to Egypt. Then I'd set up a network of secret police similar to described in "California Uber Alles", sort of a hipster/scene police. I'd even have special units with no purpose other than to enforce the ban on psuedo-emo fashion, shaving kids' heads, destroying their stupid Hot Topic clothes, etc., and probably the ban on metal music as well. My Chemical Romance and all similar bands would be forced into exile. Ralph Nader would possibly be "disappeared", though I'd rather just arrest and imprison him or also throw him into exile due to the abolishment of the death penalty.

Then I'd probably establish an ultra-liberal State Church so we could crack down on other churches, heavy crackdown on the Catholic Church, Southern Baptists, any fundies, etc. Scientology would be flat out outlawed. I'd legalize gay marriage everywhere but outlaw marriages that violate the half + 7 rule, the exception being heterosexual marriages where the female is older (This would be termed the "Cougar Clause".)

Then the national anthem would be changed to some indie/emo song, and I'd start personality cults around various "scene" heroes, we'd have a national holiday honoring Guy Picciotto for example. Probably Obama too, he'd sort of be held as a state hero like Simon Bolivar is in several South American countries. No doubt both Obama and Picciotto would end up on money. I'd use the powers of eminement domain to build lots and lots of strip clubs. I might even just for kicks have a building with two distinct parts: a strip club and a church of the state religion. This would also be the basis of my patronage system, people would be rewarded for loyalty and service to the regime by being granted ownership of strip clubs. And any attractive female illegal immigrants would have to work two years in one to earn citizenship. Obviously there would also be hordes of indie venues as well. State radio would blare scene music alongside the propaganda all day. It'd be like Enclave Radio on Fallout 3 except with scene music replacing the patriotic songs. Well actually, under this regime the scene music WOULD be the patriotic songs!

All private schools and colleges would be either shut down or nationalized. The only religious schools allowed would be those of the state religion (I guess current liberal Protestant schools could be converted into those) while Catholic and fundie schools are shut down. Secular private schools would be nationalized unless they were deemed too conservative in which case they would be shut down. Private education and homeschooling would be illegal.

Combating suburbia would be a top priority. High taxes would be imposed on suburbs making them effectively unlivable for anyone but the super-rich, who would end up being robbed of their assets. So suburbs would be converted into virtual ghettos, but then renovated to more urban architecure. Freddie Mae and Fannie Mac would be abolished, as would private homeownership for anyone but loyal supporters of the regime. Of course rent would be so heavily subsidized it'd be quite cheap, my current apartment is $550/month, this would be dropped to lower than $300. Of course tons of strip clubs would pop up in the former suburbs. Tons of middle-class families would see themselves forced from owning a McMansion in suburbia to living in an apartment in a dense urban neighborhood quite soon. Our cities would begin to resemble more Europe's. Exurbs and outer suburbs probably would be converted to large farming conglomerates, all nationalized.

Oh and the economic policy would be like Norway or something.

[Lief 🗽]

Giant statues in my likeness + a harem.

[CLARENCE 2015!]

Seems that everyone thinks this question is "who would you do" not "what would you do"

[minionofmidas]

Stealing this from Erich Loest...

"Promulgate Law No.1: Motorcycles are banned. Cars and driving licenses to be available only to persons over 25 who can demonstrate they need them for work, and only to be used while at work.

The only drawback is that the masses will tear me to pieces within 24 hours of it's proclamation."

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Write rambling kitsch essays and declarations extolling my genius, of course. So basically it would be like the internet, but with one person.

Ah, Gully, I think Rudd beat you to it in the aftermath of the GFC in February 2009.

As for me? You'd think being a Trot and all, I'd know what to do in such a situation. I wouldn't kill - only Stalinists do that.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Hmmm... This should be good.

[Хahar 🤔]

Speculation would be severely restricted.

[lowtech redneck]

I would outlaw genital herpes commercials on television.

After that, I would give up all of my power on the assumption that totalitarianism sucks ass, even with the perfect dictator.

[opebo]

2 Chicks at the same time. I think if I were a dictator I hook could that up, too; 'cause chicks dig dudes with power.

Christ, dude, I've had four at one time and far from having to be a totalitarian dictator I only needed $20.  Well that and the wherewithal to travel to Cambodia at the turn of the century.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Hmmm... This assumes the general rules of morality are suspended a bit...

-Many, many foreign wars, all won by the well supplied Cathconian military.
-Monuments to my greatness. After all, I led the nation in many foreign wars.
-Ah yes... the Harem. I am after all a dictator and the rules of morality have been suspended. Given that, why shouldn't I enjoy l life?
-Restricted trade to foster a well blossomed industry along the Cathconian coast.
-A large gap between the rich and the poor, bridged only by a small but growing merchant class. Long after my death the merchant class will have fully evolved into a middle class. My successors will look awful in comparison to me and thus, everyone would long for the days of Cathcon to stop this horrible upending of the social scales.
-Write an auto-biography praising my works and setting forth a manifesto of my "ideology". This of course will be worshiped by a well cultivated personality cult long after my death.

This and many more, coming to you from Cathcon's morality-free dictatorship!

[TJ in Oregon]

...quickly get overthrown.

[Schiff for Senate]

Host a 'census' asking everyone questions, including their address and whether or not they have a gun. After that the government visits those addresses and takes away all the guns. Killing pigs is outlawed. Increase usage of solar and wind power dramatically and cut back hugely on oil and coal usage. Gigantic tax (65%) imposed on gas-guzzler vehicles. Make the government take over healthcare completely. Cut back on the welfare state with mandatory random checks on welfare recepients for any types of drugs. Cannabis is legalized but with a big tax. Ban gender-neutral bathrooms. Ban transgender surgery on all minors. I'll stay in power for life, then return control to the people. Illegal immigrants are allowed but must choose between being deported or working for the government for free (planting trees and other stuff) for one full year. Masks are mandatory. Vaccinations are mandatory - get your first vaccine within two weeks or face being enslaved by the government. The death penalty is (surprise!) abolished, but instead of staying in a jail cell, those arrested spend their whole sentence as slaves for the government. To end unemployment, anyone unemployed can apply to work for the government 12 hours a day in exchange for room & board provided for by the government.