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I know this might seem controversial, but I feel that dictatorships and monarchies give the possibility of multi-decade or even multi-generation projects that

I know this might seem controversial, but I feel that dictatorships and monarchies give the possibility of multi-decade or even multi-generation projects that would otherwise be impossible. Modern government gets replaced every few years, and each seems to suffer from 'not legislated here' behavior that makes them cancel slow-growth projects created by their predecessors (especially in times of financial crisis) There are huge downsides to monarchies and dictatorships, but that's one of the few upsides that I haven't been able to see in Democratic systems. With huge problems facing our civilization regarding our ecosystem and climate, the solutions might require multi-generational solutions. Also, does anyone else think that a democracy might not work on a multi-generational interstellar ship?

biggio 7y ago
Yes, true but it is only beneficial to citizens if they get a smart dictator. Not like Berdimuhammedov. I have the impression that he is a clown who doesn't know what they are doing.
lkjhdcba 7y ago
This view is not controversial at all in HN where techno-libertarian crowds abound, and these are often adjacent to more authoritarian circles (see NRx/Moldbug et al.). It's also wrong. If it were true, modern democracies would not have built anything lasting more than 10-odd years since their inception. Multi-generational and even trans-national projects do exist, but perhaps they have been less publicized than other news and you haven't heard of them.
Alinax 7y ago
It gives the impression that it can build multi-decade or multi-generation projects, but in reality it only works for vanity projects that are at the epicenter of the leader (and key players) as long as it is perceived as valuable to them. It also tends to have a strong upstart, only to slow down and crawl to a point lower than democracies when looking at it in the longer span of time. Democracies and its derivatives tend to create a smaller varience between the ups and downs when it stabilizes while dictatorships tend to oscilate (read volatile) more, in part due to internal struggles.

biggio 7y ago

Yes, true but it is only beneficial to citizens if they get a smart dictator. Not like Berdimuhammedov. I have the impression that he is a clown who doesn't know what they are doing.

lkjhdcba 7y ago

This view is not controversial at all in HN where techno-libertarian crowds abound, and these are often adjacent to more authoritarian circles (see NRx/Moldbug et al.). It's also wrong. If it were true, modern democracies would not have built anything lasting more than 10-odd years since their inception. Multi-generational and even trans-national projects do exist, but perhaps they have been less publicized than other news and you haven't heard of them.

Alinax 7y ago

It gives the impression that it can build multi-decade or multi-generation projects, but in reality it only works for vanity projects that are at the epicenter of the leader (and key players) as long as it is perceived as valuable to them. It also tends to have a strong upstart, only to slow down and crawl to a point lower than democracies when looking at it in the longer span of time. Democracies and its derivatives tend to create a smaller varience between the ups and downs when it stabilizes while dictatorships tend to oscilate (read volatile) more, in part due to internal struggles.