Dictatorship in America

[Punished UMN]

people are like “wow, my political views enforced by the government? that sounds great!” but the problem is the government will eventually be misaligned with what you and other people want and need. and unlike in a democracy, there’s nothing you can do about it.

The purpose of a dictatorship is that you don't lose power to something like elections.

[Floofybit]

I'm just saying that all I care about is freedom of religion, marriage, life, and LIMITED speech. So if they make me not criticise the government, make me become a patriotic maniac, etc, that's fine.

And this means "safety" in any way...?

Making sure the people are alive. Stringent law enforcement, surveillance, stricter laws against assault and the like

[The United Penguin Commonwealth]

people are like “wow, my political views enforced by the government? that sounds great!” but the problem is the government will eventually be misaligned with what you and other people want and need. and unlike in a democracy, there’s nothing you can do about it.

The purpose of a dictatorship is that you don't lose power to something like elections.

governments can change outside of elections.

[Punished UMN]

The purpose of a dictatorship is that you don't lose power to something like elections.

governments can change outside of elections.

Yes, but the point of a dictatorship is that you don't lose power. If a dictatorship is enforcing your political views, the only way for that to end is if the dictatorship ends.

[Washington-Columbia]

Did thousands of Americans die in the Revolutionary War and WW2 protecting ourselves just so we could turn into a neo-fascist state? I'd rather have America Remain a democracy.

[Necroghastia]

And this means "safety" in any way...?

Making sure the people are alive. Stringent law enforcement, surveillance, stricter laws against assault and the like

What does any of that have to do with freedom of speech? And speaking of...

The curfew is dumb. Sometimes my only free time on weekends is after wrestling tournaments late at night. And I wake up early. If a kid is staying up too late playing video games or scrolling TikTok, that's the parent's problem

So you're okay with curfew AND not being able to complain about it...? It's for your safety, after all.

[Floofybit]

Making sure the people are alive. Stringent law enforcement, surveillance, stricter laws against assault and the like

What does any of that have to do with freedom of speech? And speaking of...

The curfew is dumb. Sometimes my only free time on weekends is after wrestling tournaments late at night. And I wake up early. If a kid is staying up too late playing video games or scrolling TikTok, that's the parent's problem

So you're okay with curfew AND not being able to complain about it...? It's for your safety, after all.

I'm all for a curfew from being outside. But not for an online curfew.

[American Legionaries]

In a democracy there's rarely anything you can do about it.

you have more options than in a dictatorship.

Not really.

[Necroghastia]

What does any of that have to do with freedom of speech? And speaking of...

So you're okay with curfew AND not being able to complain about it...? It's for your safety, after all.

I'm all for a curfew from being outside. But not for an online curfew.

What happened to safety>freedom?

[Spaghettitopia]

And if America does become a dictatorship which it should become as all countries in the world, it should be based around a moralist leader who does things to improve the country and people's lives.

Hey, buckarooniero, dictatorships only rise through immorality. The only dictator who has the hall to overthrow a government elected by the people wouldn’t give a damn about the people they govern, and would care less about what the people want.

[Floofybit]

I'm all for a curfew from being outside. But not for an online curfew.

What happened to safety>freedom?

Talking to people on the internet is not the unsafe part of it

If they start getting physical, then it is

[Adamede]

Ah man the explicit purpose of the 2nd amendment to fight agaisnt!

[Adamede]

What happened to safety>freedom?

Talking to people on the internet is not the unsafe part of it

If they start getting physical, then it is

Then might as well nip it at the source. If you’re going to be a fascist/tankie at least go all the way

[Adamede]

If the regime conformed to my beliefs, I'd be a proud supporter of dictatorship.

Doesn’t sound like the American way to me.

[Floofybit]

Talking to people on the internet is not the unsafe part of it

If they start getting physical, then it is

Then might as well nip it at the source. If you’re going to be a fascist/tankie at least go all the way

No, communication keeps people connected. Obviously, there may be speech restrictions, but communication is important

[Adamede]

Then might as well nip it at the source. If you’re going to be a fascist/tankie at least go all the way

No, communication keeps people connected. Obviously, there may be speech restrictions, but communication is important

Which is why dictatorships nip it in the bud. No half measures buddy.

[Necroghastia]

Then might as well nip it at the source. If you’re going to be a fascist/tankie at least go all the way

No, communication keeps people connected. Obviously, there may be speech restrictions, but communication is important

But those people could be predators, or scammers, or, God forbid, people of a slightly different persuasion politically and we must Think About The Children.

[Quincy]

My answer?

Hell no.

End of story.

[Algieres]

Trump dictatorship? Hell yeah.

Any other dictatorship? Hell no.

[Necroghastia]

Trump dictatorship? Hell yeah.

Any other dictatorship? Hell no.

What would be so good about a Trump dictatorship?

[Myrensis]

As the thread so helpfully demonstrates, most people who blubber about authoritarianism or dictatorships being 'good' things, do so in the assumption that 1. It will be an authoritarian dictatorship controlled by their kind of people and 2. Because they're one of the "good" people they'll be fine in the system, rather than the far more likely outcome that when shit inevitably goes sideways and Dear Leader needs more scapegoats, they'll end up facedown in a ditch with a bullet in the head right next to all the "bad" and "deviant" and "unpatriotic" people because they complained about something too loudly or asked the wrong question in front of the wrong person.

[Juansonia]

As the thread so helpfully demonstrates, most people who blubber about authoritarianism or dictatorships being 'good' things, do so in the assumption that 1. It will be an authoritarian dictatorship controlled by their kind of people and 2. Because they're one of the "good" people they'll be fine in the system, rather than the far more likely outcome that when shit inevitably goes sideways and Dear Leader needs more scapegoats, they'll end up facedown in a ditch with a bullet in the head right next to all the "bad" and "deviant" and "unpatriotic" people because they complained about something too loudly or asked the wrong question in front of the wrong person.

I'm just saying that dictatorships are more efficent, and I don't care about democracy for its own sake. In an idealised world, dictatorship would be great, even if I'm not the one in charge. However, our world is far from ideal, and leaders care only about securing their power and wealth, and it's unlikely that improving the people's material conditions will do anything but divert money away from keyholders.

[The United Penguin Commonwealth]

governments can change outside of elections.

Yes, but the point of a dictatorship is that you don't lose power. If a dictatorship is enforcing your political views, the only way for that to end is if the dictatorship ends.

the point of a dictatorship is that someone doesn’t lose power. that someone not being you, that dictatorship will not align with you. a dictatorship will do what is necessary to keep itself alive, and many of those actions are things you won’t want. the ruling party or person changes and their policies change as well.

[Utquiagvik]

shit situation for literally anyone who isn’t a white, straight, Republican male. No thanks, I would like to keep our democracy.

[The United Penguin Commonwealth]

you have more options than in a dictatorship.

Not really.

to be fair, america is not (and hasn’t been) a great example of a democratic system.