Marie Monday

No not really, because it's a matter of definition instead of realism. But I agree that it's a less interesting answer, that's why I originally put it aside for the sake of the argument

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SGR

I think the problem with the question is risk assessment.

Even if I'm living under a benevolent dictatorship, if that dictator dies, the next one may not be so benevolent.

An incompetent president carries its own risks, but generally there would be more protections against complete disaster - and the likelihood that another president would be in power before too long.

I think there are definitely certain times and places in history that you'd be better off with a benevolent dictator though, despite the long term risks (immediate risks being too dire)

The Batlord

Well the core of the question is do you value democracy for its own sake, which is a valuable question since, as jwb put it, people have a sort of religious reverence for democracy that isn't necessarily based in rationality. And considering the limitations of democracy as it's been practiced in the real world and the form of democracy people have this irrational faith in, representative democracy dominated by the rich, it's really valuable to question it so long as you're not treating the question as a binary between authoritarianism and oligarchic representative democracy.

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SGR

Perhaps we could democratically elect our benevolent dictator?

Lisnaholic

1. What is your favourite piece of classical music?
The Lark Ascending by R Vaughan Williams is one of a handful of classical pieces I have regularly enjoyed.

2. At what age did you begin drinking?
At about 17, along with most of my mates.

3. Would you rather live under a benevolent dictator or an incompetent president?
An incompetent president.

4. What material do you believe has had the most impact on humanity?
I think bone has proved its usefulness over the years. Without it, we'd all be like big jellyfish I suppose.

5. What’s your favourite plant or flower?
For its contribution to so many scenic views, I'll choose the humble grass in all its varieties.

6. What mystery would you like to see solved?
Difficult to improve on Marie Monday's choices: Dark Matter, and all that Quantum stuff

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"Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

jwb

i don't know what you mean by it's a matter of definition instead of realism. What does that mean?

The way i see it, the term benevolent dictator was right in the premise of the question so yes i do think you either grant that premise in order to answer the question or else the question is disingenuously worded and frankly not worth answering.

jwb

yeah basically if you detach democracy from the assumption that it necessarily leads to better outcomes and you could conceive of a society that was more authoritarian but actually also more effective at pursuing good outcomes, would that still be a deal breaker because democracy is just an inherent good? Or is that assumption inherently premised on the assumption that it leads to better outcomes?

jwb

We could implement a sort of social credit system to select the appropriate candidates for administrative office.

rostasi

1. What is your favourite piece of classical music?

Well, if I don’t use the term “classical” in its strictest def,
then I’d say Stockhausen’s Hymnen.

2. At what age did you begin drinking?

I’m going with the literal sense here,
because that’s all I have,
so probably the age I was breastfed.

3. Would you rather live under a benevolent dictator or an incompetent president?

An incompetent president - tho it’s like asking a vegan to decide between pork and beef.

4. What material do you believe has had the most impact on humanity?

My first thought was plastic, but I think I’m going with concrete,
because if the cement industry were a country,
they’d be the third largest CO2 emitter on the planet.

5. What’s your favourite plant or flower?

Difficult to choose, because nearly all of the ones I like the most
are also poisonous to our pet friends.

6. What mystery would you like to see solved?

I love cryptographic puzzles, so things like the Voynich Manuscript,
Tamam Shud, Rongorongo, etc. are ones I’d love to solve.

Trollheart

I realise you're just being contrarian here, but I think it's pretty self-evident that I meant drinking alcohol, otherwise we all started at age zero.

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018