I say we need a Dictator!

[Stella_Omega]

I'm only 51 and spent my time in London in the museums in the 70's, not in front of a TV

Omigod, the Victoria and Albert-- AKA "Look at all the stuff we own!"

 

[neonlyte]

Neasdon

From the history of 'Private Eye' - a UK satirical magazine, proudly boasting as the most sued magazine in the world:

# Neasden is an inner London suburb on the North Circular Road in Brent which is the location of various parody institutions, and is often given as the origin of fictional letters. The magazine was initially printed in Neasden before being turned away by the printers, which might explain the origins of this joke, though in 1971, Richard Ingrams said simply that Neasden was used "to denote the contemporary urban environment". Stories from the world of football are satirised in "reports" by E.I. Addio (the reference is to terrace chanting by fans) about the mythical and notoriously underperforming club Neasden F.C., with quotes from its manager "tight-lipped ashen-faced supremo Ron Knee, aged 59" and "the fans" (implying there were only two) Sid and Doris Bonkers. Sid and Doris Hill are also occasionally given as the two fans' names, a pun on the suburb of Dollis Hill, which is near to Neasden. The club's recent misfortunes lampooned the recent tribulations of major clubs in the national news. Often, underneath a spoof sports story, the sub-column "late result" would appear, reporting on a match recently played by Neasden. This normally involved a humorously unlikely team, often one related to current affairs, such as Taleban FC. Neasden nearly always lose by a huge margin, often owing to own goals scored by veteran player "Baldy" Pevsner.

 

[DeeZire]

I think Sarah Palin would be honored to serve as dictator of the world. She already has God on her side, and it's her duty to save the rest of mankind from themselves.

 

[starrkers]

I think Sarah Palin would be honored to serve as dictator of the world. She already has God on her side, and it's her duty to save the rest of mankind from themselves.

But she doesn't come from Neasden.

 

[rgraham666]

I think Sarah Palin would be honored to serve as dictator of the world. She already has God on her side, and it's her duty to save the rest of mankind from themselves.

I think she's more the 'Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out' type myself.

 

[DesertPirate]

Omigod, the Victoria and Albert-- AKA "Look at all the stuff we own!"

Spent about half a day there
Spent two days in the Imperial War Museum
One day in 76 and one in 79.
In 76 my Destroyer was in Southampton and in 79 my Submarine was in Portmouth about 3 blocks from HMS Victory.

 

[TE999]

I always envision a medieval world inhabited by a million King Arthurs. So sad and so funny!

"Awright, you lot! Repeat after me! I am Arthur King of the Britons. I wish to speak to the master of this castle."

"Next, line up over here at the lake's edge and wait for the sword to be tossed to you. Mind the pointy end, grab the pommel only. We lose more Arthur's that way."

 

[Magistermilitum]

Generally speaking, a democracy is a slave to its passions and appetites. Democracies have no self-discipline.

Take it to the bank that a democracy will never fix a problem until the problem has created a crisis.

At last, a voice of reason!

 

[Magistermilitum]

Scoff all you wish, but a benevolent dictator is better than the malevolent one that you're likely to get when democracy self-destructs, as it will inevitably. Democracy is an inherently self-destructive system of government.

To quote one of your own Founders, James Madison, "They have been as short in their lives, as they have been violent in their deaths."

The unwashed masses lack a capacity to run their own lives (as witnessed by the mortgage crisis), let alone pick who will rule them or govern themselves.

We're nothing but primates, and as such naturally seek alpha males to rule us. What Nietzsche called "unconditional commanders".

 

[past_perfect]

Scoff all you wish, but a benevolent dictator is better than the malevolent one that you're likely to get when democracy self-destructs, as it will inevitably. Democracy is an inherently self-destructive system of government.

Give me one historic example for a benevolent dictator.

 

[Magistermilitum]

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.

 

[starrkers]

Scoff all you wish, but a benevolent dictator is better than the malevolent one that you're likely to get when democracy self-destructs, as it will inevitably. Democracy is an inherently self-destructive system of government.

Who do you consider from history was a benevolent rather than malevolent dictator?

 

[Magistermilitum]

Who do you consider from history was a benevolent rather than malevolent dictator?

Jozef Pilsudski, Napoleon Bonaparte, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Gaius Julius Caesar, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Augustus, Aurelian, Diocletian, Decius, Vespasian, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Primo de Rivera, Alexander Dubcek, Mikhail Gorbachev, Vladimir Putin, Deng Xiao-ping, Chiang Kai-shek, Pittacus of Lesbos, Pisistratus of Athens, Draco of Athens, Hannibal of Carthage, Alexander Severus, Septimius Severus, George Papadopoulos, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ismet Inonu, Reza Khan Pahlavi, Mohammed Shah Pahlavi, Engelbert Dollfuss, and Anwar Sadat, just to name a few.

 

[starrkers]

Jozef Pilsudski, Napoleon Bonaparte, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Gaius Julius Caesar, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Augustus, Aurelian, Diocletian, Decius, Vespasian, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Primo de Rivera, Alexander Dubcek, Mikhail Gorbachev, Vladimir Putin, Deng Xiao-ping, Chiang Kai-shek, Pittacus of Lesbos, Pisistratus of Athens, Draco of Athens, Hannibal of Carthage, Alexander Severus, Septimius Severus, George Papadopoulos, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ismet Inonu, Reza Khan Pahlavi, Mohammed Shah Pahlavi, Engelbert Dollfuss, and Anwar Sadat, just to name a few.

Thank you.

 

[Magistermilitum]

Incidentally, the title that I use for my name is the office that I would like in this utopia. It literally means "Master of Soldiers", and it is a title for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces in the late Empire.

 

[past_perfect]

Jozef Pilsudski, Napoleon Bonaparte, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, Gaius Julius Caesar, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Augustus, Aurelian, Diocletian, Decius, Vespasian, Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Primo de Rivera, Alexander Dubcek, Mikhail Gorbachev, Vladimir Putin, Deng Xiao-ping, Chiang Kai-shek, Pittacus of Lesbos, Pisistratus of Athens, Draco of Athens, Hannibal of Carthage, Alexander Severus, Septimius Severus, George Papadopoulos, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Ismet Inonu, Reza Khan Pahlavi, Mohammed Shah Pahlavi, Engelbert Dollfuss, and Anwar Sadat, just to name a few.

I think we really do have different definitions of benevolence.

 

[starrkers]

I think we really do have different definitions of benevolence.

I thought something similar. So far disparate in fact, that I doubt we could discuss this meaningfully.

 

[neonlyte]

I thought something similar. So far disparate in fact, that I doubt we could discuss this meaningfully.

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

 

[rgraham666]

Feh, just another goddamn ideologue. How can you tell? He's not one of the 'common people' in the system. He's one of the Chosen.

Doesn't matter to me. If his world comes to pass, I'll be a dead man. Heretics are always the first to go.

I don't intend to sell my life cheap though.

Also, don't you regard it as odd that none of 'the usual suspects' has shown up in this thread?

 

[neonlyte]

Feh, just another goddamn ideologue. How can you tell? He's not one of the 'common people' in the system. He's one of the Chosen.

Doesn't matter to me. If his world comes to pass, I'll be a dead man. Heretics are always the first to go.

I don't intend to sell my life cheap though.

Also, don't you regard it as odd that none of 'the usual suspects' has shown up in this thread?

The 'usual suspect' did post a footnote that he was going to be away... some crowning ceremony or something, I just hope it's not an honorary degree in economics

 

[rgraham666]

More from my favorite book.

LEADERSHIP "Why is there such a dearth of good leaders? Because we're in a leadership crisis." This is the chorus of the modern lament.

The proverbial wise foreigner - Swift's giant King of Brobdingnag or Montesquieu's Persian in Paris writing home - would probably note that this is a curious obsession for democracies to harbour. Democrats are supposed to be obsessed by their own participation and that of the citizenry in general. Leadership, after all, is the cry of unevolved, craven peoples frightened by the idea of individual responsibility. The sort of people who desire nothing better than a god or divinely inspired chief to hold them to his bosom, or better still hers, for protection and reassurance.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Franklin Roosevelt was a benevolent dictator. Wooodrow Wilson tried to be.

 

[starrkers]

Franklin Roosevelt was a benevolent dictator. Wooodrow Wilson tried to be.

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

 

[rgraham666]

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

It's simple.

If it's someone whose politics you differ with they are a dictator, even if elected.

If you agree they are a wise and benevolent leader representing the will of the people.

See? Simple.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

STARRKERS

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

Add Winston Churchill to the list.