Of course. I’d get promptly assassinated too
No because narcissistic psychopathic yes-men would flood my surroundings and I’d probably quickly become paranoid (with reasons to be that).
Except if it was in a Douglas Addams way.
I think I would last a little longer than average. And I only say that because the more power I get handed the more anxiety I get and I think it’s the people it doesn’t make anxious that are the scariest.
There’s a famous phrase: power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It’s guaranteed to happen. The theme is played upon in LOTR when both Gandalf and Galadriel refuse the ring, knowing what it will do to them. It’s the most important metaphor Tolkien put into the stories for a good reason. Peter Jackson made those moments stand out, as he also understood the assignment. Nobody is capable of resisting the call of corruption when given absolute power. You are not an exception.
Basically it is a structural problem that ensures corrupt behavior. A dictator has to direct resources to the people most relevant to their continued power to buy their loyalty, and away from everyone else whose support is irrelevant. Not being a scumbag in that position could get you killed.
I’m less worried about getting corrupted and turning evil, and more about having the powerful people of the country/world go after me with all their might after I declare a transition into anarchism/socialism.
I would instantly be assassinated for helping out people too much and handing too much power to workers syndicates
I’d like to think so. When we read 1984 in high school, a friend and I were studying together. I remember saying (in my naïveté), “I loved the book and I get the history but why would you want to be in charge of a place that sucks?” She was like, “You’re just going to have to get used to the fact that a lot of people care about power more than beaches.”
Well, I still think those people are foolish. I’d rather be in charge of my own tiny slice of paradise than rule over some wack ass dictatorship where everyone else is miserable. Not wanting to be in charge is probably the basic pre-requisite for being a benevolent dictator. I like to cook for people and stuff. I’d use my power and wealth to do that.
That being said, I’m a dirtbag. I’d have a cool house somewhere with mountain and ocean views. Probably 3 or 4 beauty queens who also have Ms. Congeniality pageant sashes who are in charge of laughing at my jokes and charming me. No more than one or two rhythmic gymnastics teams that delight us all by throwing ribbons to each other with their feet. (Other apparatuses are cool too. Hula hoop. Clubs. Ball. Variety is the spice of life.)
I’d be too much of a lazy dictator to do anything truly evil.
I’ll be happy to be your evil grand vizier, if you need one.
Underrated comment, power that sits unused will get preyed on.
I think there are many people out there who could.
To me, the problem isn’t being a benevolent dictator; it’s getting a benevolent person there in a benevolent way.
Yeah the problem is mostly that benevolent people don’t actually want to be dictators much less do what it takes to become one.
One can not be a dictator and benevolent
With my dictatorial powers … my first action would be to seize and outlaw extreme wealth. No one would be allowed to own more than $1 million.
All the money collected would be used for government and providing a Universal Basic Income for everyone.
And I’d get a designer to make me a big fancy hat.
Fantabulous! Please remind me when election is so I can vote for you. 🫡
That is increadibly hard to do.
- How do you define what goes into that 1 million of allowed wealth? If I buy a house worth 950000, would I only be allowed to save 50000.
- what about if the house increase in value so that it is worth 2 million, should I just accept that I loose 1 million? What about stocks?
- Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
I agree with your take on this. I think 1M is way too low. But 1 Billion… It’s a bit easier to imagine the “you can’t or the dictatorship will seize something” idea.
The reality is that the wealthiest people usually influence the most
I’d do the same but at 1b. And then execute anyone that steps over 1B. It’s incredibly easy to not be a billionaire.
The house is only worth what the market will pay for it, if you aren’t selling your $10m mansion then it’s worth nothing. Sadly if you do try to sell it you’d probably need to move to the barter system and agree with the buyer that $10m worth of arbitrary goods is actually worth $15.95, just like your house …
If you’re a dictator, surely you don’t have to justify any of your actions and just do whatever you want, right?
You absolutely has to justify your actions, you will only be in power as long as your subordinates will follow your orders.
You can’t just do whatever you want, you need to have a strategy, now doing this dictator stuff right will give you insane levels of power, but you can’t just go crazy and boss everyone around from the get go, you need to reward your loyal subjects and create levels of privilege and harsh punishments for the people to enjoy and stay loyal.
I would probably also include the wealth one owns and not just money (because thats useless, they would just use a different currency) and set it to like 40-50 houses in value. If they own a company that gets bigger the country gets shares
50 Houses might seem a lot in value (especially depending on what kind of building) but it already would distribute a lot of wealth + allowing the dream of being filthy rich with less consequences to the rest of the population
Because its just an idea i dont think about the specifics of the exact limit and such
This is a delight, and you are correct. That said, in the spirit of this silly thread, I provide solutions, below:
If I buy a house worth 950000, would I only be allowed to save 50000.
Yes. It will be time to get some roommates.
- what about if the house increase in value so that it is worth 2 million, should I just accept that I loose 1 million?
Yes. Or rather, exactly half of the house. Time to rent a storage unit, and put up some tarps to divide the entryway.
What about stocks?
Better sell some.
Inflation or Deflation, when/how will you update that limit?
Cost of living increases have long been understood and easy enough to calculate.
But - when I’m global leader, COLA for millionaires will only start after exactly as many years as the local minimum wage went without updates.
Ignore these naysayers. Tell us more about the hat.
The shortest dictatorship in history…
Socialist doesnt know how the economy works
Yes but I would be incompetent to the point where there’s not much difference.
Brawndo, its what plants crave!
Fr tho, its hard to know who to trust. My advisors could all just be lying to me.
Nah, that’s why you set up a system of checks to determine if you should be assassinated and succession in case of it. Bonus points if your advisors assassinate body doubles to retire you instead.
If you’re offering me the job, I’ll give it a go. I think I’d do a shockingly great job, but even if I didn’t, there is no universe where I’m as evil and incompetent as the people who are currently in charge.
