I say we need a Dictator!

[starrkers]

STARRKERS

Plenty of dictators are elected. Adolf Hitler was legitimately elected. The dictatorship comes after the election.

Add Winston Churchill to the list.

Only if the democratic process is degraded and effective opposition is removed.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

STARRKERS

You changed the conditions of your argument in the midst of the debate.

True, if everyone has a gun and belongs to a militia, it's difficult for a dictator to impose his/her will on the citizens.

 

[Safe_Bet]

In my utopia, the world would be governed by a Senate, drawn from the principal nations, which would appoint magistrates to command the police, military (as I am not naive enough to think that there won't be wars at all- they will just be separatist wars), various agencies, commissions, and courts.

An elected Assembly would pass laws, but only those introduced by the Senate.

All violent crimes (including armed robbery and gang membership) would be punishable by death.

Only male property owners or guild members would be allowed to vote at all. The voting age would be lowered to 16, however, for those who fit that category.

Prostitution would be legal, but only in public brothels. Pornography would also be legal, but only those forms sanctioned by the censors (of course, only extreme forms would be outlawed, such as bestiality, kiddie porn, rape depictions, snuff, golden showers, and scat). Homosexuality would be legal, but not gay marriage. I think that it is obscene to think that marriage is anything other than a union of man and woman. However, concubinage would be legal, so homosexuals and polygamists can take advantage of that useful alternative to marriage.

However, creationism would be banned in school. It is sham science, and would only serve to confuse students. And parochial schools would be required to prove that they do not teach creationism in science classes, but only in religious classes.

School prayer is absurd. Again, the state should be secular, not sponsoring superstition.

Abortion should be legal, but only for rape, incest, deformity, and survival/health reasons. We can't afford to kill off the next generation who will foot the bill for the generous welfare state that I intend.

Not that I intend to allow idleness. Those receiving subsidies must perform some public service to merit such things.

As for divorce, I would drastically reduce it, by eliminating the no-fault option. It's absurd to think that no one is at fault when divorce happens. Alimony would be continued, but not community property. And alimony must be justified by regular examinations of the divorce settlement.

Deadbeat parents would be sentenced to chastity belts for up to 3 years at a time. Persistent deadbeats would be forcibly sterilized.

And those males not going to college would be automatically enrolled in a guild, to guarantee that there is full employment and education. Trade school/apprenticeships would be compulsory for young men entering the workforce.

And instead of a graduated income tax, there would be poll taxes for the privilege of the franchise, as well as property taxes, a payroll tax, guild membership dues, corporate income taxes, a small personal head tax, VATs, excise taxes, and a few "sin" taxes. There would also be tolls for roads.

I'll give you this: You appear to be a well educated Fascist; but still a fucking Fascist.

Additionally, I agree with Rob on several points. You got one hell of a lot of "I"s and "My"s in there, boyo, and I think you and your ilk might just find implementation a mite bit harder than anticipated (not that that has ever stopped a "True Believer.") So "then" what would be your solution - kill everyone who disagrees with you?

 

[rgraham666]

A little Jefferson.

Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties: 1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes. 2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depositary of the public interests. In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, liberals and serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, whigs and tories, republicans and federalists, aristocrats and democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still and pursue the same object. The last appellation of aristocrats and democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all.

Letter to Henry Lee (August 10, 1824)

 

[starrkers]

STARRKERS

You changed the conditions of your argument in the midst of the debate.

True, if everyone has a gun and belongs to a militia, it's difficult for a dictator to impose his/her will on the citizens.

I wasn't necessarily meaning armed opposition. Political opposition still functioned under those you named.

Sorry if my argument is jumping all over the place - it's late, I'm tired. Only reason I'm still up is I was waiting for family to get home. They're home now. I'm off.

 

[Safe_Bet]

I dunno... didn't Vespasian bring the motor scooter to the masses? That was a benevolent act

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SAFE-BET

Fascists deserve love, too.

Your esteemed democracy just saddled you and everyone you know with $3333 more in national debt, to rescue Wall Street thieves and the fools they fleece.

A self-respecting fascist would simply round-up the thieves and shoot them, to stop them from pulling the same stunt in a few years.

 

[DesertPirate]

A dictator would be OK, as long he was Groucho in Duck Soup

 

[Safe_Bet]

A dictator would be OK, as long he was Groucho in Duck Soup

"A four-year-old child could understand that. Run out and find me a four-year-old child, I can't make head or tail out of it."

I LOVE GROUCHO!

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

A little Jefferson.

Nothing wrong with a little Jefferson. I love to read Jefferson while drinking a little Samuel Adams, as a matter of fact. They go well together, somehow.

And a great comeback to fascist pricks like Magister.

"Master of Soldiers", indeed. The Late Empire was corrupt and deserved to collapse, for precisely the kind of statist BS that he advocates.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

As elected representatives at the mercy of the next vote, I somehow fail to see where the dictatorship comes in.

Because they often trampled civil liberties of the very same people to whom they owed office. Mind you, I wouldn't uphold Wilson as anyone's example. The first American wannabe Emperor, nothing more. Got us into a war that was none of our business and used it as an excuse to push socialism and segregation (yes, there's a dirty secret of history, he was anti-civil rights).

And had the gall to think that his view of democracy should be shoved down everyone's throats by force (Mexico, anyone).

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I think that we have a first, here, actually. The first fascist globalist. Interesting, indeed, in a sick way.

 

[past_perfect]

I think that we have a first, here, actually. The first fascist globalist. Interesting, indeed, in a sick way.

If you mean here in the forum, perhaps. In real life, a certain Mr. A. Hitler beat him to it, as his "visions" and "dreams" were on a rather global scale also.