In the past, when there were such threads, some Dopers dodged the hypothetical by replying, “I don’t want there to be a dictator, period.”
So - suppose we bypass that for a moment - if there had to be a dictator - no dodging this - what would you want him (or her!) to be like? You get to choose the attributes of such a dictator.
Would you prefer this dictator come into power through popular appeal to a majority of your compatriots, or would you prefer they seize and maintain power through force? Or neither? Like, maybe you’d like this dictator to subvert democratic processes and get just a large enough following to continue to rule through fear, but resorting to only minimal violence, primarily just intimidation tactics?
Would you prefer this be a dictator who hates people for the circumstances of their birth, but then leaves everyone else to their own devices and does not do anything to them? (the analogy of the “if you’re in, you’re in” kind of dictator)
Would you prefer this dictator be tolerant of the circumstances people are born into, but seek to censor what they can say, perhaps even go after their beliefs if they run counter to their (and possibly your) own personal beliefs?
Would you prefer a strongman dictator who oppresses out groups, whether by birth or belief, by blaming disease, crime, injury, death or suffering on them?
Etc. Etc. What about taxes, should such a dictator levy taxes, or should state income derive solely from the imposition of fines and confiscation of property? (that could be fines for trivial offenses, total forfeiture for felonies, whatever)
This is a safe thread for conservatives to post their thoughts in, but please don’t dodge the hypothetical. What kind of dictator do you want, Conservative dopers?