Posted on 10/20/2009 6:30:02 AM PDT by The Louiswu
I am "discussing" politics with a gent from the UK on Facebook. He is advocating a "benevolent dictatorship"
My question are, can there be such a thing, is a "benevolent dictatorship" a good idea.
To paraphrase the old saw about the difference between a recession and a depression, a benevolent dictatorship is when they come for your neighbor. A malevolent dictatorship is when they come for you.
Benevelent to who?
good question
Yes. Cattle enjoy benevolent dictators.
A Brit supporting the idea of a dictatorship? LOL....next thing you know he will be extolling the virtues of the Queen...
Answer: the Apple.. the rope stops the dictator..
I think there can be, but it is unlikely. There are examples in the Bible of such “benevolent dictatorships”. The problem is, a benevolent dictatorship depends almost entriely on the moral character of a single man, with little or no restraints placed upon him. It is difficult to find one man with that type of character, and even if you do, he will eventually die, and the chances of all his successors remaining benevolent are very slim.
Dictatorships develop dependent personalities in people.
In other words, the citizens become infantile.
An infantile personality varies back and forth between passive, appeasing behvarior and violent tantrums.
Does not matter whether they are benevolent or not.
“benevolent dictatorship” is an oxymoron. Who decides what is benevolent and what do you do when it becomes malevolent? Any kind of dictatorship is bad because it doesn’t reflect the will of the people and their inalienable rights.
In those days, the rich and influential stayed in the capital, danced, feasted, and discussed philosophy with visiting scholars. Farmers and other productive people were largely left alone.
Today, a benevolent dictatorship is not about dancing, or feasting, or discussing philosophy. Today, a benevolent dictatorship is about exerting power over people in every possible way. Politicians think they are gods and they have ways to watch over everything you do, everything you say, everything you earn, and everything you buy.
If Man is basically good (which is what Marxists claim) then the benevolent dictators will be good people looking out for our best interests.
But if human nature is flawed, and if power corrupts, then a benevolent dictatorship is an inevitable nightmare.
So long as your dictator is Salomon, everything is fine. But for every benevolent dictator/monarch/ruler, you have dozens of Hitlers, Stalins, Maos, Pol Pots, etc. The power of a dictatorship naturally draws the malevolent, i.e. those who are willing to cut throats to get there.
Perhaps your gent friend should just move back in with his parents.
In exchange for his adult independence - their house, their rules. Quite benevolent.
A benevolent dictatorship would possibly be all right for the subjects. The problem is, since it is a dictatorship, the subjects have no say over succession, and the next one might not be benevolent. In fact, over time, it’s a certainty a despot will emerge.
So, bad idea.
Yes and no. The fact that I believe the old canard “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely” I would say no.
However, there are some men who had the ability, for a time, to bring out peace and justice through dictatorship. George Washington was one such man, though he refused the power offered to him. And I think that is why I say “yes and no”. Because while I believe there are men who could benevolently be a dictator, I don’t believe they would take the power because they know that the power would corrupt them.
Eventually (I believe from the scriptures) God himself will rule on Earth in a true benevolent dictatorship, but until then, no man will, even if he could for a time.
The only good dictator is a dead dictator.
Great replies!!!
I love FR - if I have a troubling question, I can get several opinions, that I compare and contrast. What a wonderful site!!!
Can there be a “benevolent dictatorship?”
Well, there is heaven. It is run by the Father Almighty, and His word is Law.
On this side of the grave? Not likely.
Works in my house, but I'm single. But, to answer your general question; No.
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