Ask Lemmy

Me, yes. 😊

Yes, because my first act would be to replace the benevolent dictatorship with a representative democracy.

Maybe, but only if I become a dictator to remove and spread my power to smaller government organizations. Basically instead of having one source of power, I dilute the government into multiple governments that also police each other and not one of them have power to govern over all others. Additionally, police and military would be the only "governments" that have slightly less governing power than the rest because while we still need police and military I don't want them to use their weapons to muscle their way over the other governments.

Note: I am not saying it's perfect or covers all cases, but I believe that having a central point of power is the biggest issue with a dictator becoming corrupt and this applies even to non-dictators (hint-hint). Maybe I am wrong and I invite polite discourse on the subject.

Yes, but I would try to avoid it as much as possible because that's what we call in Spain "un marrón que te cagas" that only demented people want for themselves.

I don't think most dictators think that they're evil. So even if I say I'm not or won't be, it's meaningless. History will be the judge.

No, because "benevolent dictatorship" can't exist (the only benevolent action of such a dictatorship would be self-abolishment).

What do they say about absolute power? It comes with great responsibility.

yeah, easily

the problem is staying on top of things to ensure my government doesn't do things on the side. that sounds exhausting

so, I'd be fine, but I wouldn't be able to keep government clean. I don't have those skills

but if everyone does as they're told? no issues

I know I can but none of you power-hungry would-be tyrants better try anything funny.

I would probably try to make a form of voting system to get myself out of the role as fast as i can

But not before giving trans people rights

Yes because I would be beholden to my customers via my AGPL-3.0 and CC-BY-SA-NC-4.0 licenses.

If I fuck around I imagine I'd quickly lose customers and go homeless.

No, but I'll give it the old college try. I've always imagined that the only way to be a benevolent dictator is to do the dictator thing only to install a better form of government to replace you and hope it sticks when you step away. Something more technocratic and with better checks and balances.

Yes, and it's because I'm too lazy to do any actual dictator shit.

Overtime I must imagine I'll be petty as fuck, but starting out I'm just making sure public transport and education are taken care of. Mostly by hiring smarter people than me to make my dream of not having to own a car a reality.

I'd be a watchdog, not a dictator. I think that's the better use of that power. And if I had an idea then I'd take it to the same process as the rest of the laws and have a vote on it.

I don't believe there ever has been a benevolent dictator. Sure, some dictators resulted in some amount of positive change (though almost always limited to a very small portion of their society) I couldn't name a single person described as a dictator who didn't seize and maintain power without violence and oppression.

I don't think it's actually possible to wrest power away from the establishment and consolidate it in a single person's hands without violence.

Being a dictator in and of itself is corrupt. Power and resources should be distributed amongst all equally. Vote for me for dictator.

One week after I take power the megaprojects start getting built. Benevolence will be factored into budgetary concerns.

The trick is to set a reasonable limit for political assassinations and idiotic massive construction projects ahead of time, and then keep to those limits.

I know far better than to think that is ever possible for anyone, and I would never put myself in such a position as to be forced to find out

One can not be a dictator and benevolent

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.

Yes. I don't require people's adulation because I'm already proud enough (veering more into arrogance and never into the insecurity that's at the core of every billionaire villain we know), I don't love money because I simply don't like things like that (and would find it shameful if I did, I'm very Diogenes-coded), and I wouldn't overstep my moral limits because 1) I'm a deeply religious man who believes in the Day of Judgment (and I'm not stupid/weak enough to lie to myself to excuse my actions) and 2) I have a lot of experience suffering fools to the point I just pity them and wish them the best even when they insult/dislike/hate me so I wouldn't just emotionally lash out or whatever (that would just make me the more foolish one then and my clarity and pride will not allow that, you can see my comment history if you need confirmation, lol).

It's extremely rare to be in my position, and while there are a myriad of things I could not be because I'm just too incompetent for it, being a benevolent dictator is probably one thing I could be a natural at. I already naturally default to a very paternalistic, therapeutic role in both my friend groups and my family (regardless of age, with even my divorced aunties in their 60s calling me for advice and reassurance!). 👍

only if you are somehow affiliated with the military (so they don't off you) and if you are independently wealthy. It's the trap of falling into supporting oppression (military state) or oligarchy (bruce wayne doesn't need to take bribes lol) that wrecks most dictatorships...

oh and lust for complete and unity power against the will of the masses, that's a problem too.

Sure, for the low price of a lifetime pension I'll benevolently dismantle the oligarchy; ban guns; make cars luxury items; massively expand mass transit; and bring in universal health and education!

Just ignore the claims that I've actually jailed or killed my opposition; held the families of so called "freedom fighters" so they'll turn themselves and their buddies in; made travel outside your area and healthcare impossible without government approval; and completely changed the history everyone learns.

Okay that's obviously pretty extreme. Just a reminder that if you're not careful even well intentioned dictatorships can be very oppressive. And every dictatorship is on a timer to a coup or revolution. And resetting that timer is not pretty. The only way off the treadmill is to have elections again.

Nobody can.

Yes!

I guess. I mean the end game of benevolent dictator is no longer being the dictator. Sort of like Atatürk

I'll be super chill to hang out with in my palace, while my Grand Vizier takes care of day to day business.

Yes.