It’s clear from my threads on The Sims 2 that i have dictatorial tendencies, so i got to thinking, if i ever became dictator of my own island, what kind of dictator would i be?
i’d like to think i’d be a benevolent dictator, with one exception, my stance on crime, criminal behavior is a voluntary decision, if you don’t commit crimes, you wouldn’t run afoul of the MacTech Criminal Injustice System (because criminals don’t deserve justice, their victims do)
the island would have a completely open society, the only thing that would be forbidden is criminal activity, the penalty for criminal behavior would be simple, and the same for all criminal acts, ranging from criminal mischief to murder, lifetime imprisonment in solitary confinement with only starvation rations, the cell would only be big enough to stand up in, no walking space, no toiletries, just a simple box, you break the law, you go “in the box”, no parole, no appeal, don’t want to end up in the box?, then don’t commit crimes, simple as that
I’m not sure if you’d qualify as a “benevolent dictator” if you’re condemning people to what would essentially be hell for forgetting to feed the parking meter.
I’d like to think benevolent, but with only a moment’s reflection I am ashamed to admit that my absolute power would corrupt absolutely and it’d probably take me about 10 minutes to become a Fascist.
Social libertarian fascist. You wouldn’t have to worry, as long as you weren’t hurting anyone or getting in my way.
You cross that line, however, and I’ll come down on you like the hammer of god. You prove yourself unworthy of society, then your value is reduced to three factors: How many man-hours of labor can be extracted from you; how much use to medicine and science your parts could be; and how much suffering can be pried from your mind and flesh before you can manage the merciful escape to oblivion.
Not to say that my island will be a completely harsh “survival of the fittest” land: in many ways, it could even be called “progressive.” There will be social programs to aid my citizens when needed, to try to enable them to have the opportunities and abilities to make the best out of their lives. And, within as few limits as possible, they will be free to live those lives as they wish.
But never forget…above everything, mine is the final word. I’ll leave you alone, I’ll let you hate me, I’ll help you if you need it. But if you cross me, my country, or your fellow men, you’re no more than so much meat.
I would like to be a Mussolini kind of dictator, at least as far as cool airplanes, cool uniforms, and punctual railroads. I’d draw the line at castor oil parties.
When I read the OP’s description of their dictator island, the first thought that came to mind was “San Lorenzo” from Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle.
Personally, I’d go for the powerless figurehead type of dictatorship. I’d just sit in office and chill out all day while a team of scientists, engineers, and philosophers ran the country. Maybe I’d even try to get them to build a big governing super-computer that we could all worship and beg for advice, ala the Twilight Zone’s Old Man in the Cave. I guess the only problem with being a figurehead is that I’d be the one to blame if things went amok.
Ooh, perhaps the Google ad at the bottom of this thread would be a useful tool for those of you that would opt for corporal punishment for every criminal offence.
If somebody ran a country the way I run my life there’d be piles of garbage everywhere, the trains would show up if and when they felt like it, the criminals would get off if they promised that this time they were really really sorry and they wouldn’t do it again.
Yeah, I’d predict a civil war in about 37 seconds. I’d mean well, but my temper would inevitably lead to beheadings and other ugliness, and finally it’d be my neck on the block. Oh, but the orgies!
I’d be a “back-room” dictator. I’d let some frontman hold the title of ruler and do all the public relations work while I (and my hand-picked cabinet of experts) run the government.
Hmm… well I’d like to think of myself as a benevolent dictator, but I’m sure the libertarians would strongly disagree with my economic policies. Here are my quirky policies:
A heavy income tax, but in no case will it be above 50 percent of what you earn. In my mind, you should always be able to keep most of what you make, but you still have a responsibility to the rest of society which helped enrich you in the first place.
Heavy estate tax. I’ll allow exceptions for family businesses and family farms if you’re willing to carry the business torch, but otherwise you aren’t allowed to mooch off the accomplishments of your forefathers.
Marijuana is legal, and employers are not even allowed to test you for it unless your job requires you to operate heavy machinery.
Prostitution is legal as long as it’s not done out on the streets and it’s done in a licensed brothel. The sex workers will of course be tested regularly for STDs and be required to use condoms.
Gay marriage legal.
Assisted suicide legal for people with terminal illnesses.
Hard drugs will be made illegal, but jail time would almost never be imposed. If someone is caught with meth, they’ll be allowed to get off with probation and mandatory drug tests for the next couple years.
A strong emphasis on using methods other than prison to correct people who commit non-violent crimes. The emphasis will be on restitution if possible.
I would be very harsh on criminals whose crimes injure others, or deprive others of their sustenance. I would have a gigantic meat grinder built in front of the Ministry of Justice with a prominent label on it: Recidivist Rehabilitation System.
I’ll bet I would never have to use it, much like The Hook in Cat’s Cradle.
