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Honestly, if you tried to write a fake story about Kim Jong Un visiting a farm, how different would it be from this? "Kim Jong Un Visits Farm No. 1116 Run by K

Honestly, if you tried to write a fake story about Kim Jong Un visiting a farm, how different would it be from this? "Kim Jong Un Visits Farm No. 1116 Run by KPA Unit 810" "Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, gave field guidance to Farm No. 1116 under KPA Unit 810." http://rodong.rep.kp./en/index.php?strPageID=SF01_02_01&newsID=2016-09-13-0001 http://rodong.rep.kp./en/index.php?strPageID=SF01_02_01&news...

Shivetya 10y ago
honestly it would be refreshing is stories about Western leaders were about their visiting average citizens in non premier jobs instead of running about constantly on the road to election even if they aren't running for an office themselves.
- strictnein 10y ago
  There's plenty of campaign stops at factories, construction sites, state fairs, and schools. And if you've seen the pictures of this farm visit, there isn't an "average" person in sight. Just large mounds of the best crops for him to inspect.
drzaiusapelord 10y ago
North Korean dictator culture involves being an "instant expert" for pretty much all industry. I don't know how well KJU does it, but his father would show up at a workplace and start giving random advice. Everyone would applaud his genius and take notes. Lots of face-saving smiles, photo ops, crying, etc would follow. Then state media would report increased productivity in that plant or farm. Its incredible people have to live like this. Dictatorships are hell.
- strictnein 10y ago
  I find the note taking in most of his photos the most interesting. Sometimes you'll spot upwards of 10 people jotting down something.
- mason55 10y ago
  > Dictatorships are hell. Not necessarily, look at Singapore. A benevolent dictatorship can be the best kind of government, the problem is finding the benevolent dictator.
  - drzaiusapelord 10y ago
    Well, I think you're being overly generous with Singapore's human rights record, but even ignoring that, what happens when the dictator dies or hands power to his sons or whatever? You have no mechanism for a sane transfer of power nor do you get to vet the candidates. Also, what if he's merely 60% benevolent, how do you fix the other 40%? For example, corporal punishment continues to exist in Singapore. Why would a benevolent leader allow that? Worse, what avenues do you have to change this? You don't have any in dictatorship. Heck, Singapore has the world's highest execution rate relative to its population. It also executes drug dealers. Again, how can you change that in a dictatorship? Who gets to decide what is "benevolent" here?

Shivetya 10y ago

honestly it would be refreshing is stories about Western leaders were about their visiting average citizens in non premier jobs instead of running about constantly on the road to election even if they aren't running for an office themselves.

strictnein 10y ago
There's plenty of campaign stops at factories, construction sites, state fairs, and schools. And if you've seen the pictures of this farm visit, there isn't an "average" person in sight. Just large mounds of the best crops for him to inspect.

drzaiusapelord 10y ago

North Korean dictator culture involves being an "instant expert" for pretty much all industry. I don't know how well KJU does it, but his father would show up at a workplace and start giving random advice. Everyone would applaud his genius and take notes. Lots of face-saving smiles, photo ops, crying, etc would follow. Then state media would report increased productivity in that plant or farm. Its incredible people have to live like this. Dictatorships are hell.

strictnein 10y ago
I find the note taking in most of his photos the most interesting. Sometimes you'll spot upwards of 10 people jotting down something.
mason55 10y ago
> Dictatorships are hell. Not necessarily, look at Singapore. A benevolent dictatorship can be the best kind of government, the problem is finding the benevolent dictator.
- drzaiusapelord 10y ago
  Well, I think you're being overly generous with Singapore's human rights record, but even ignoring that, what happens when the dictator dies or hands power to his sons or whatever? You have no mechanism for a sane transfer of power nor do you get to vet the candidates. Also, what if he's merely 60% benevolent, how do you fix the other 40%? For example, corporal punishment continues to exist in Singapore. Why would a benevolent leader allow that? Worse, what avenues do you have to change this? You don't have any in dictatorship. Heck, Singapore has the world's highest execution rate relative to its population. It also executes drug dealers. Again, how can you change that in a dictatorship? Who gets to decide what is "benevolent" here?