🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Nov6.152738.13901@cs.mcgill.ca>, depeche@cs.mcgill.ca (Acme Instant Dehydrated Boulder Kit) writes:
|> 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.

Good example. I suppose another example of a benign dictator is Boris Yeltsin.

|> 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.

Is everything really so rosy in Singapore? I know there have been some
social costs related to Singapore's cosy realtionship with
multinational corporations. 	

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

I don't chew gum, but I still would not accept this form of government. In 
such a society I suspect that individual expression and creativity would be 
limited. I imagine it is like living in IBM.

Thomas