Would we be better off under a dictatorship?

[2952-0-0]

I'm sure there are those totalitarians out there who think so.

[John Dibble]

Well, in general, I'll say no. However, given the right dictator it would be 'possible'. Still, it's unlikely, as power has a tendency to corrupt.

[David S]

No way. Not in a million years.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Depends on the dictator.

[Nym90]

I don't think that anyone can be trusted with the power of a dictatorship, no matter how good they might be beforehand. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[A18]

We are under a dictatorship. It's called the Supreme Court, and they keep changing the Constitution on us.

[J. J.]

I frankly would trust myself as dictator (and I don't trust governments of which I am a member).

[Jake]

Be alot easier, but less fun (no elections=no politics=equals less fun).  I could see it working if the dictator was elected every few years, and relinquished the post when his term was up.

[dazzleman]

We are under a dictatorship. It's called the Supreme Court, and they keep changing the Constitution on us.

Not just the Supreme Courts, but the judicial branch in general is taking on more and more of a dictatorial role in society.  We have to turn it back.

[A18]

We are under a dictatorship. It's called the Supreme Court, and they keep changing the Constitution on us.

Not just the Supreme Courts, but the judicial branch in general is taking on more and more of a dictatorial role in society.  We have to turn it back.

State courts are much less activist. We just need to get an originalist majority on the Supreme Court, and we'll get things back on track in this country.

[David S]

Be alot easier, but less fun (no elections=no politics=equals less fun).  I could see it working if the dictator was elected every few years, and relinquished the post when his term was up.

Likely sequence of orders from dictator:
1) Gun ownership is prohibited. All guns must be turned in.
2) Free speech is prohibited
3) Future elections are temporarily cancelled until the dictator determines that they can resume, ( Means dont hold your breath)
4) All private property now belongs to the dictator.
5) All rights are suspended.
6) Those citizens who are deemed to be non-productive, or a threat to the government please line up for the gas chamber.

[Jake]

In a non perfect world, that's what happens.  Ideally, we'd have a dicatator, elected by the people, who didn't have to go through bureaucratic red tape to get things done.  He'd only be looking out for citizens. Obviously, unless God himself were the dictator, this is imposiible.

[John Dibble]

In a non perfect world, that's what happens.  Ideally, we'd have a dicatator, elected by the people, who didn't have to go through bureaucratic red tape to get things done.  He'd only be looking out for citizens. Obviously, unless God himself were the dictator, this is imposiible.

Put a computer in charge.

[David S]

In a non perfect world, that's what happens.  Ideally, we'd have a dicatator, elected by the people, who didn't have to go through bureaucratic red tape to get things done.  He'd only be looking out for citizens. Obviously, unless God himself were the dictator, this is imposiible.

Put a computer in charge.

Just make sure you can pull the plug.

[Alcon]

In a non perfect world, that's what happens.  Ideally, we'd have a dicatator, elected by the people, who didn't have to go through bureaucratic red tape to get things done.  He'd only be looking out for citizens. Obviously, unless God himself were the dictator, this is imposiible.

Put a computer in charge.

[John Dibble]

Well, obviously we'll use Linux.

[Alcon]

Well, obviously we'll use Linux.

After all, Linux is famous for increasing productivity. I mean, it's so easy to use!

[MaC]

no, anyone who's seen The Matrix knows you can't have machines running the world. 

[John Dibble]

no, anyone who's seen The Matrix knows you can't have machines running the world. 

Oh, gee, a movie, wow, yeah. I better get to work on a movie where computers run things in a good way, just to get my ideas credible.

[TX_1824]

Be alot easier, but less fun (no elections=no politics=equals less fun).  I could see it working if the dictator was elected every few years, and relinquished the post when his term was up.

Likely sequence of orders from dictator:
1) Gun ownership is prohibited. All guns must be turned in.
2) Free speech is prohibited
3) Future elections are temporarily cancelled until the dictator determines that they can resume, ( Means dont hold your breath)
4) All private property now belongs to the dictator.
5) All rights are suspended.
6) Those citizens who are deemed to be non-productive, or a threat to the government please line up for the gas chamber.

Sounds like every Communist nation that ever existed.

[John Dibble]

Be alot easier, but less fun (no elections=no politics=equals less fun).  I could see it working if the dictator was elected every few years, and relinquished the post when his term was up.

Likely sequence of orders from dictator:
1) Gun ownership is prohibited. All guns must be turned in.
2) Free speech is prohibited
3) Future elections are temporarily cancelled until the dictator determines that they can resume, ( Means dont hold your breath)
4) All private property now belongs to the dictator.
5) All rights are suspended.
6) Those citizens who are deemed to be non-productive, or a threat to the government please line up for the gas chamber.

Sounds like every Communist nation that ever existed.

Yup. If I was dictator, the first thing I'd do is force everyone to have a machine gun and ammunition, and tell them if I'm ever unbearable or try to take them away to start shootin.

[phk]

Be alot easier, but less fun (no elections=no politics=equals less fun).  I could see it working if the dictator was elected every few years, and relinquished the post when his term was up.

Likely sequence of orders from dictator:
1) Gun ownership is prohibited. All guns must be turned in

Not true, Mao Zedong himself said, "power comes from the barrel of a gun".

[phk]

Well, obviously we'll use Linux.

After all, Linux is famous for increasing productivity. I mean, it's so easy to use!

But open-source software is COMMUNISM OMG!#!@#!@$@#$@#$

[David S]

Be alot easier, but less fun (no elections=no politics=equals less fun).  I could see it working if the dictator was elected every few years, and relinquished the post when his term was up.

Likely sequence of orders from dictator:
1) Gun ownership is prohibited. All guns must be turned in

Not true, Mao Zedong himself said, "power comes from the barrel of a gun".

Yes he absolutely said that, but his idea was that he would be holding the gun.

[John Dibble]

Be alot easier, but less fun (no elections=no politics=equals less fun).  I could see it working if the dictator was elected every few years, and relinquished the post when his term was up.

Likely sequence of orders from dictator:
1) Gun ownership is prohibited. All guns must be turned in

Not true, Mao Zedong himself said, "power comes from the barrel of a gun".

Yes he absolutely said that, but his idea was that he would be holding the gun.

Indeed, it's more reason for a dictator to take away guns from the general populace. If only your loyal followers have guns, your opposition has no power.