Failed state or dictatorship?

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
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Ottawa, ON
I like this video:

YouTube - John Bolton gets pwned

At one point it brings up the question of whether it's preferable to live in a dictatorship or a failed state.

Honestly, I think I'd rather live in a dictatorship myself. At least the state apparatus is still functional and capable of maintaining daily law and order.
 

AnnaG

Hall of Fame Member
Jul 5, 2009
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I like this video:

YouTube - John Bolton gets pwned

At one point it brings up the question of whether it's preferable to live in a dictatorship or a failed state.

Honestly, I think I'd rather live in a dictatorship myself. At least the state apparatus is still functional and capable of maintaining daily law and order.
Like ChRETIeN's dictatorship or like the Taliban would have in Afghanistan?
Personally, I'd just as soon look after myself and let others look after their own biz. IOW, I don't want a nanny.
 

Said1

Hubba Hubba
Apr 18, 2005
5,338
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Das Kapital
I wouldn't mind one, or a sugar daddy.

I think Jo just likes the rules and enforcement of the status quo and.....tidiness. No offense of course, I live in Ottawa too! :lol:
 

El Barto

les fesses a l'aire
Feb 11, 2007
5,959
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Quebec
the advantage of a dictorship is that it only takes one bullet to change the leader
 
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SirJosephPorter

Time Out
Nov 7, 2008
11,956
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Ontario
the advantage of a dictorship is that it only takes one bullet to change the leader

Yes, and replace him with another dictator. Personally, I don't think there is that much of a difference between a dictatorship and a failed state.

Indeed, I would characterize most of the dictatorships today (North Korea, Zimbabwe, Iran etc.) as failed states, I wouldn't want to live in any of them.

Asking which is better is like asking which is better, colon cancer or lung cancer.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
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Ottawa, ON
Yes, and replace him with another dictator. Personally, I don't think there is that much of a difference between a dictatorship and a failed state.

Indeed, I would characterize most of the dictatorships today (North Korea, Zimbabwe, Iran etc.) as failed states, I wouldn't want to live in any of them.

Asking which is better is like asking which is better, colon cancer or lung cancer.

By failed state I was referring to anarchy. Normally in a dictatorship, the government's main concern is to maintain power. beyond that, it will likely uphold the law more or less according to the status quo.

In a failed state, there simply is no law and order so simply minding your own business is no longer an option since anyone could decide to try to claim your property at any time and use force at his own discretion with no police to restrict him from doing so.

I can also state that though I've never lived under a dictatorship, I have lived under what is essentially a one-party state. Sure technically there are other parties in China, but in reality power lies in the Communist Party.

And I can say that though that country had its flaws, at least I felt safe. I doubt I could say the same in total anarchy and chaos.