🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Nov4.230737.29054@thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu> thomas@McRCIM.McGill.EDU (Thomas Jelonek) writes:
>
>|> in basic human nature.  Any of various forms of dictatorship is fine
>|> provided the dictator is truly benevolent and the populace all agree
>|> with the dictator on a few basic values - but that too we don't know
>|> how to ensure.
>
>I am unware of any historical precedent of a `benevolent dictator'. Thus I
>doubt the viability of this approach. Of course, I would not refuse the
>position of `benevolent dictator' if it would be offered to me.

Well, in Singapore, they got a list of human rights violations a mile long,
and you're not allowed to chew gum anywhere in the country, but the form of
government definitely qualifies as a benign dictatorship. It used to be one
of the scummiest islands in south east asia, with disease, drugs,
prostitution and crime rife. Now it's the cleanest place in that region,
with among the best quality of life ratings, economic growth, availability
of education, health care, and employment.  All this in the last 25
some-odd years.

The dictator in place [I forget his name] is almost single-handedly
responsible for all this change. He's got a lot of power, but he definitely
cares about the people he governs, and while he cuts a few corners and
steps on a few feet, his intentions are admirable.

But alas, nobody in the US would accept such a form of government.


-- 
| Alan Ezust    depeche@cs.mcgill.ca   McGill University Computer Science    |
|------------------------Montreal, Quebec, Canada (?)------------------------|
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