is it better to live under a benevolent dictator rather than a selfish and chaotic democracy?

Answer 1

Democracy is what people make it. By determination and judicious approach, there is a scope of improvement in the conditions in a democratic system. Hence democracy where there is a freedom of expression is preferable.

Answer 2

Hard to say. Of the two, I think a selfish and chaotic democracy has a better capability for improving than a benevolent dictator does of remaining benevolent.

To paraphrase Winston Churchill, "democracy is the worst form of government...except for all the others." Democracies can be either very good or very bad, depending on how good the politicians are at manipulating public opinion, how educated the public is, and perhaps most importantly, how many checks & balances there are on gov't power. The "tyranny of the majority" is always cause for concern in a democracy, because we're ALL minorities in some fashion. Maybe your religion isn't the #1 most popular one, or maybe you're a racial or ethnic minority, or gay, or atheist, or a member of an unpopular economic class, or you're a part of the fringe culture, etc. etc.

The best way to ensure a stable gov't is to put severe limits on its abilities to control or legislate its citizen's lives, economically or personally. All abuses in gov't ultimately come down to gov't doing something it shouldn't be doing, whether through the actions of an individual in gov't (a corrupt head of an agency or a fanatical leader) or by consent of a majority of the people. So having strong, well-defined limits on gov't power can help prevent many abuses (whether intended or unintended) from taking place.

For this reason I think a benevolent dictator is not quite as good as a chaotic democracy. Over time, the dictator will continue to see himself as benevolent even after the people stop seeing him as such. For instance, Hugo Chavez in Venezuela thinks he's the hero of the people, but he's quickly consolidating power and removing all the barriers to absolute rule. At least half the population supports him now, but in a few more years it will be much less but also won't matter, because he'll be a dictator for life. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Benevolence never lasts in gov't, and the Venezuelan people are in for a hard lesson.

Answer 3

The problems with a benevolent dictatorship are as follows:

1. Power corrupts. A benevolent dictator may not remain benevolent.

2. The successor of a benevolent dictator may not be benevolent, and dictatorships are not a form of government that is easy to change.

3. When the people yield power to a benevolent dictator, they lose the ability to govern themselves through lack of experience.

The advantages of a democracy, even one that is selfish and chaotic, are:

1. Democracies have an orderly process for legislation, for judicial decisions, for administration, and for the change of who leads them. The worse the selfishness and chaos, the more quickly it is apt to change.

2. Minorities cannot dictate policy; however, minorities have intrinsic rights that protect them from the whims of majorities.

3. Successful democracies have checks and balances that prevent the rapid overthrow of vested interests, but the same system–chaotic as it is–limits what the vested interests can do as well.

My $0.02! Worth every penny.

Answer 4

Excuse me? Benevolent dictator? These two words don't even belong in the same sentence! Someone who comes right out, and tells me what I can do, and can't? Where I'll work, for how many hours a day, what money I'm allowed to have, where I'll sleep, live, whom I'll marry? Democracy is chaotic for a reason! People are allowed to think, and speak! Sure sometimes it get's a little overboard here,(USA for example), bound to happen! Freedom of choices! There's still choices I can make, still the right way to help make this country the best there is. Selfish democracy? Talkin' about the US of A? Yeah, we're selfish! That's why so many countries owe us so much money! Why people are jumpin' fences to come here! Why people come here to get the best medical! Why we send boat-loads of food, medicine, educational items, to other countries. It's because we're selfish! See how this fit's in your history, government exam! LOL!

Answer 5

I think in the long-term, its better for people to live in democracy.

Under dictatorship, comfort is possible if the leader is "benevolent". However, this situation would lead to a serious lack of development and, economic stagnation.

Selfishness can be the mother of invention.

Answer 6

Neither! But to qualify democratic as chaotic is unwise coz if any country follows it in the spirit and in truth and functions within the constituiton of that nation then it is beautiful, harmonious if not perfect. I believe. So my chioce would be between a dictator and democracy,the latter.

Answer 7

absolute power corrupts absolutely

as long as he's human, he can't stay pure long when he is free to do as he wishes.

and...

"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those others that have been tried from time to time."

Answer 8

Dictators are never benevalent are they?

Democracy is never not chaotic and never is without selfish people following it.

Answer 9

Short answer yes. Long answer depends, the main problem with any form of government is that it depends on people whether it be many or a few. In theory every government is the best kind of government but in practice they are all failed to doom because the are products of humanity and all humans are flawed creature.

Answer 10

not basically the mattress, the closet too. ;-; If I dropped one among my filled animals off of the mattress whilst i became attempting to sleep, and the room became dark, i might enable it stay there because of the fact i assumed something might grab my arm from below the mattress as i attempted to p.c.. it up. :3 i don't think that stuff anymore nonetheless. I nonetheless get spooked by utilising the closet if I watch an extremely frightening horror action picture nonetheless. >->