You have become the supreme dictator of the United States.
post by Nyarlathotep (LoganCole) · 2020-06-22T01:45:10.278Z · LW · GW · 10 commentsSo, you have become the supreme dictator of the United States of America. What do you do and why?
You have absolute authority, you cannot be impeached, and you have the backing of the military so you do not have to worry about an uprising.
Everything else about the US government stays the same. All other government officials are democratically elected, the social/political climate is the same as it is now, et cetera.
Please try to be a benevolent dictator, we have already seen plenty of terrible tyrants in real life so it would be much more interesting to see what an all powerful ruler would do if they were legitimately concerned for the public good.
10 comments
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comment by seed · 2020-06-22T08:09:16.156Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Well, first of all, I'd take money from the poor and give it to the military. What? It doesn't matter how "benevolent" I am, it's just what I have to do to stay in power.
Seriously, if you're legitimately concerned for the public good, don't become a dictator. Become an entrepreneur or a scientist.
Replies from: LoganCole↑ comment by Nyarlathotep (LoganCole) · 2020-06-22T19:13:18.635Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I think you're right.
comment by Dagon · 2020-06-22T19:13:21.275Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
This makes no sense. I have absolute authority, but everything else stays the same? That's not a reachable universe.
I think if it did happen, I'd probably do some work to set up a decent election system (likely parliamentary, with proportional voting), then abdicate to that more sustainable system. I'd probably also set a generous pension for former dictators.
Replies from: LoganCole↑ comment by Nyarlathotep (LoganCole) · 2020-06-22T19:24:33.384Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
You're right, I didn't think that through well enough. But regarding your answer itself, I like your ideas. Election reform is one of the things I was interested to see being talked about, I personally support proportional voting.
One question though, after abdicating, would you then run for president under the new voting system?
Replies from: Dagon↑ comment by Dagon · 2020-06-22T20:56:40.158Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
would you then run for president under the new voting system
Absolutely not - that's the whole point of the pension! I do not have the skillset, the willingness to take fools seriously, nor the ability to shut up on unimportant-but-controversial topics, which are required for public office.
Replies from: LoganCole↑ comment by Nyarlathotep (LoganCole) · 2020-06-22T22:31:32.295Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
That's the best move. Plus, since you established the voting system, you would be accused of faking the election.
comment by Nuffle · 2020-06-22T04:40:36.628Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I would first nationalize all industries directly tied to welfare and national security. Farming, domestic logistics, PG&E, healthcare, and ISPs. Agricultural Exports would continue to be sold for profit and domestic sales would be sold at cost calculated quarterly by region. The goal of this program would be to free up labor productivity for use in experimentation, R&D, and entrepreneurship.
Public education would be expanded to include either 4 years of University education or 2 years of University and 2 years of trade education. After every 10 years of employment the option for another round of the same would be made available. The primary goal for this program would be to raise average labor productivity among the entire population.
A national pension at 70 would be implemented at 80% of the average annual income between the top ten years of work up to a cap at 2x the mean of all workers' annual income. This retirement would be compulsory.
Petitions with more than 1% of all citizens' signatures would enter a mandatory legal arbitration and given two years to reach a resolution between whichever parties involved. In the event a resolution could not be made a selection of circuit court judges would be called to review the proceedings and form a compromise which would enter Congress as a bill to be voted on immediately.
I'll have to come back and edit this to add a couple of pages on civil rights and prison reform.
Replies from: LoganCole↑ comment by Nyarlathotep (LoganCole) · 2020-06-22T07:11:41.410Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
This is absolutely fascinating! I love your ideas my dude. Some of this, from what I can tell, is leaning a bit socialistic, which there is nothing inherently wrong with. Is this intentional? or could I be misinterpreting your message?
Also, this society seems exclusively focused on maximizing productivity and profit. I may, again, be misinterpreting but if I am not and this is the case, what would you do (if you would do anything), to make sure people have the opportunity to pursue hobbies or professions in the arts and humanities.
Thank you! :)
Replies from: Nuffle↑ comment by Nuffle · 2020-06-22T14:54:40.867Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
Personal political philosophy aside, I think appearing socialistic might be unavoidable given the prompt.
Maximizing productivity and each person's earning potential comes to mind as the most effective way to guarantee leisure time and career mobility so every citizen can engage in artistic and humanities hobbies and careers. In such a system by age 40 a person could have degrees and training in both a STEM/business field and an arts/humanities field, either being an artist through their 20s before having the option to retrain into an engineer in their 30s or the other way around.
With tax revenue boosted by a generation of professionals, grants to support public arts endeavors would eventually help start up those careers. Murals on buildings, sculptures and statues, architectural marvels in cities or beautiful buildings at rural meeting places, perhaps even a project similar to the Дворец культуры undertaking from the Soviet era.
The final state of things I'd imagine working towards would be a country more full of opportunity, less full of suffering, maximized for each person's professional fulfillment and comfort. Each person would be able to see over the course of their lifetime a renewal of their city or town to a more beautiful and inviting space.
Replies from: LoganCole↑ comment by Nyarlathotep (LoganCole) · 2020-06-22T19:14:59.021Z · LW(p) · GW(p)
I love this. Thank you for clearing up some of my confusion.