A Strong Leader/ Dictator

th3 s1aught3r · 15-11-2010 2:31pm #1

Cowen, Kenny, Gilmore
We need a leader who will make the hard decisions that need to be made. None of these party leaders are capable of that imo, they are all too tied up in the public sector/unions and other self-serving organisations of the state. I dont want to see a potential leader of this nation talking to the people through the Late Late show to some over paid entertainer, a leader would be out talking to the people. Not arguing like children in the house of lies that is the Dail
Our model of British parlimentary democracy is not working, maybe we need someone to reorganise our state, so the party politics are wiped from the landscape
As soon as you say the word dictator people get all judgemental but as Anakin Skywalker said "if it works"

starbelgrade · 15-11-2010 2:35pm

Yeah - dictatorships always work out really well. Let's have one of them.

biko · 15-11-2010 2:35pm

Hey, it's working for Zimbabwe, kinda...

Ruu_Old · 15-11-2010 2:36pm

I'd like a leader that shouts from a balcony every morning to address the people. Arm waving and fist pumping is preferred but optional.

squod · 15-11-2010 2:37pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

Anakin Skywalker said "if it works"

“People try to say it can be a bad influence, like they try to say with video games and movies. However, we say from the beginning you have to be 18 or older. You know what you're going to get with us because we've labeled ourselves from the start.”

Ron Jeremy. (could be talking about voting Fianna Fail.)

Snakeblood · 15-11-2010 2:37pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

As soon as you say the word dictator people get all judgemental but as Anakin Skywalker said "if it works"

Actually, I get all judgemental if people say 'as Anakin Skywalker said'.

Snakeblood · 15-11-2010 2:38pm

squod wrote: »

Ron Jeremy. (could be talking about voting Fianna Fail.)

At least Ron Jeremy doesn't rely on special effects.

AckwelFoley · 15-11-2010 2:39pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

Our model of British parlimentary democracy is not working, maybe we need someone to reorganise our state, so the party politics are wiped from the landscape"

Where works? Example please

PeterIanStaker · 15-11-2010 2:40pm

Ron Jeremy's a hard working guy, who always stands up to be counted. I'm sure he'd probe the dodgy banks too.

th3 s1aught3r · 15-11-2010 2:45pm

snyper wrote: »

Where works? Example please

The Roman Empire was fairly successful imo

parker kent · 15-11-2010 2:46pm

PeterIanStaker wrote: »

Ron Jeremy's a hard working guy, who always stands up to be counted. I'm sure he'd probe the dodgy banks too.

And if he turned out to be useless at that, he still has a massive knob :pac:

humanji · 15-11-2010 2:46pm

So it's agreed. Ron Jeremy will be our new benevolent dictator.

AckwelFoley · 15-11-2010 2:51pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

The Roman Empire was fairly successful imo

Yea. We need that.

Start a party, i'll vote for them.

But i keep my current cloths, im not wearing any ghey roman ****

up for anything · 15-11-2010 2:57pm

Is this the wrong thread to start getting nostalgic for Charlie Haughey only when someone mentioned dictator......

Cat Melodeon · 15-11-2010 3:03pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

The Roman Empire was fairly successful imo

You'll be happy assuming the role of slave then, yeah?

Hayte · 15-11-2010 3:06pm

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this thread.

Someone called the slaughter advocates government purge, the inaugeration of a dictator and the reason for doing same is because Anakin Skywalker said so.

The tyranny doesn't bother me so much as the idea that you haven't thought this whole thing through. I mean if you quoted Yoda I think your proposition would carry more weight.

prinz · 15-11-2010 3:14pm

It's basically exactly what the country needs. No need to go as far as dictator but we are desperately in need of a leader who basically doesn't care about the money, the power, the job so much as getting the best job done for the country. Someone who isn't staking a long-term political career on the line, so that every decision is no longer weighed up against personal goals instead of the national good.

What we have is a bunch of glorified local councillor asshats in redundant parties who would spend time, effort and money arguing over the colour of grass and promptly vote themselves a few extra holidays to reflect on their debate instead of actually getting something done.

The only problem is the electorate doesn't have the imagination or the balls to elect someone to fill that role.

th3 s1aught3r · 15-11-2010 3:17pm

Hayte wrote: »

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this thread.

Someone called the slaughter advocates government purge, the inaugeration of a dictator and the reason for doing same is because Anakin Skywalker said so.

The tyranny doesn't bother me so much as the idea that you haven't thought this whole thing through. I mean if you quoted Yoda I think your proposition would carry more weight.

Ok you get Enda so, best of luck

up for anything · 15-11-2010 3:18pm

prinz wrote: »

It's basically exactly what the country needs. No need to go as far as dictator but we are desperately in need of a leader who basically doesn't care about the money, the power, the job so much as getting the best job done for the country. Someone who isn't staking a long-term political career on the line, so that every decision is weighed up against personal goals instead of the national good.

Those two comments make absolutely no sense.

Anyway, the Dalai Lama is busy and Gandhi is dead.

prinz · 15-11-2010 3:22pm

up for anything wrote: »

Those two comments make absolutely no sense..

Yeah they do, in my head. :pac: Edited for clarity.

As for the second part, that's why nothing will change.

De Dannan · 15-11-2010 3:24pm

Would a dictator have done any more damage to the country than FF ?

Neyite · 15-11-2010 3:28pm

Michael O'Leary?

it would either be really good, or really really bad. i havent decided yet.

Sticky_Fingers · 15-11-2010 3:28pm

De Dannan wrote: »

Would a dictator have done any more damage to the country than FF ?

With a dictator I suppose we would have the advantage of knowing who actually ended up with our looted state finances while we were reduced to eating cabbage 6 times a week.

who what when · 15-11-2010 3:31pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

The Roman Empire was fairly successful imo

The Roman Empire started out with a democratic senate. Its only when the status of emperor was brought in that things started to go bad!

bonerm · 15-11-2010 3:49pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

As soon as you say the word dictator people get all judgemental but as Anakin Skywalker said "if it works"

Anakin Skywalker also said ....

Anakin: You're asking me to be rational. That is something that I know I cannot do. Believe me, I wish I could just wish away my feelings, but I can't.

Anakin: If Obi-Wan caught me doing that, he would be very grumpy.

Anakin: From the moment I met you, all those years ago, not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you. And now that I'm with you again... I'm in agony. The closer I get to you, the worse it gets. The thought of not being with you- I can't breath. I'm haunted by the kiss that you should never have given me. My heart is beating... hoping that kiss will not become a scar. You are in my very soul, tormenting me... what can I do?- I will do anything you ask.

Anakin: So have you, grown more beautiful... for a senator, I mean

Anakin: One day, I will become the greatest Jedi EVER. I will even learn how to stop people from dying.

Anakin: I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth.

Anakin: Oh, no, I'd be too frightened to tease a senator!

Basically he's the galaxys biggest doofus.

De Dannan · 15-11-2010 4:11pm

The dictatorship of Cincinnatus in ancient Rome would be considered a successful one. He took power for a short time, defeated Rome's enemies, then famously returned to his plow, as the Roman dictatorship was supposed to work. He was a great hero of the Roman republic, and a model for George Washington when he was the first President of the United States.

Gunsfortoys · 15-11-2010 4:13pm

Hayte wrote: »

I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this thread.

Someone called the slaughter advocates government purge, the inaugeration of a dictator and the reason for doing same is because Anakin Skywalker said so.

The tyranny doesn't bother me so much as the idea that you haven't thought this whole thing through. I mean if you quoted Yoda I think your proposition would carry more weight.

His threads are of the winding up variety.

De Dannan · 15-11-2010 4:22pm

Gunsfortoys wrote: »

His threads are of the winding up variety.

If you dont have something to say on the topic dont comment just to get your post count up or whatever trolling you are up to today

Gunsfortoys · 15-11-2010 4:23pm

De Dannan wrote: »

If you dont have something to say on the topic dont comment just to get your post count up or whatever trolling you are up to today

Ok.

allanb49 · 15-11-2010 4:25pm

Anakin was a whiny kid what we need is Lord Vadar. If he's not availible can we get Chad?

Hayte · 15-11-2010 4:29pm

De Dannan wrote: »

Would a dictator have done any more damage to the country than FF ?

Are you really asking? Lets look at some examples that historically didn't work out so well:

Kim Jong Il/North Korea - Comparing the state to the high tech juggernaut this is South Korea is like watching an instructional video in how to FAIL.

Pol Pot/Cambodia - Yeah, compulsory agrarian collectivism really worked good.

Big Joe/Soviet Union - The 20th century definition of getting things done. Shame about the incalculable loss of life.

ch750536 · 15-11-2010 4:31pm

What we have now:

Bob wants power. Bob joins the Power4Me party. Bob knocks on doors in Lubtown promising to do a good job of representing the people of Lubtown. People of Lubtown vote & he gets power.

Tim wants real power. Tim joined Power4Me party 10 years ago. Tim knocks on the doors of Power4Me people promising to do a good job of leading them. People of power vote & Tim gets the job.

Tim then tells Bob how to vote. Bob votes that way regardless of whether the people he promised to represent are either involved or voice their thoughts otherwise.

Solution: Representatives are meant to debate & represent. Their own opinion or even the opinion of their 'party Tim' is secondary to the opinion of those they are meant to be representing.

Remove parties from politics. Everyone by definition has to be independent as they can only represent those people who live in their constituency.

th3 s1aught3r · 15-11-2010 4:33pm

Hayte wrote: »

Are you really asking? Lets look at some examples that historically didn't work out so well:

Kim Jong Il/North Korea - Comparing the state to the high tech juggernaut this is South Korea is like watching an instructional video in how to FAIL.

Pol Pot/Cambodia - Yeah, compulsory agrarian collectivism really worked good.

Big Joe/Soviet Union - The 20th century definition of getting things done. Shame about the incalculable loss of life.

You didnt answer the question though did you ?

bonerm · 15-11-2010 4:34pm

PADMÉ: You really don't like politicians, do you?

ANAKIN: I like two or three, but I'm not really sure about
one of them. (smiling) I don't think the system works.

PADMÉ: How would you have it work?

ANAKIN: We need a system where the politicians sit down and
discuss the problem, agree what's in the best interests of
all the people, and then do it.

PADMÉ: That is exactly what we do. The trouble is that
people don't always agree. In fact, they hardly ever do.

ANAKIN: Then they should be made to.

PADMÉ: By whom? Who's going to make them?

ANAKIN: I don't know. Someone.

PADMÉ: You?

ANAKIN: Of course not me.

PADMÉ: But someone.

ANAKIN: Someone wise.

PADMÉ: That sounds an awful lot like a dictatorship to me.

A mischievous little grin creeps across his face.

ANAKIN: Well, if it works...

WTF?

I remember when Star Wars used to be a set of great movies. Before the dark times, before the prequels.....

sensibleken · 15-11-2010 4:45pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

Cowen, Kenny, Gilmore
We need a leader who will make the hard decisions that need to be made. None of these party leaders are capable of that imo, they are all too tied up in the public sector/unions and other self-serving organisations of the state. I dont want to see a potential leader of this nation talking to the people through the Late Late show to some over paid entertainer, a leader would be out talking to the people. Not arguing like children in the house of lies that is the Dail
Our model of British parlimentary democracy is not working, maybe we need someone to reorganise our state, so the party politics are wiped from the landscape
As soon as you say the word dictator people get all judgemental but as Anakin Skywalker said "if it works"

has anyone pointed out that our democracy is nothing like the british model yet?

and that star wars does not a political system make? those stormtroopers cant shoot for shít anyway. and who makes a death star that can be easily blown up with one missile? idiots. why would we want to be like them.

therell be nothing but ewoks on the dole and selling their wares on the streets to furries.

you'd be doing it for alderan reasons!

allanb49 · 15-11-2010 4:48pm

sensibleken wrote: »

you'd be doing it for alderan reasons!

Genius good sir/madam,

I tip my hat to thee

Hayte · 15-11-2010 4:54pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

You didnt answer the question though did you ?

Fair enough.

Would a dictator have done any more damage to the country than FF?

This cannot really be answered because there are too many hypotheticals when asking 'would?'. However the capacity for an autocratic, authoritarian, super legal governing entity to trample the rights of its citizens is about as far reaching as it gets. You have no effective say in what your government does which some would argue isn't much different to what we have now but the big difference is that you have no legal recourse either if it does not coincide with the interests of the powerful.

I wouldn't want a dictatorship. I'm not saying what we have now can be considered much else other than a law bound, elected tyranny (oligarchy to be more precise) but you don't get out of this hole by digging deeper.

th3 s1aught3r · 15-11-2010 4:54pm

De Dannan wrote: »

The dictatorship of Cincinnatus in ancient Rome would be considered a successful one. He took power for a short time, defeated Rome's enemies, then famously returned to his plow, as the Roman dictatorship was supposed to work. He was a great hero of the Roman republic, and a model for George Washington when he was the first President of the United States.

A good example.
Sometimes someone has to take charge if your country is being destroyed. I regret now quoting Star Wars, its seems to have excited all the nerds here on AH !!

thebigbiffo · 15-11-2010 4:57pm

seriously, with jabba the hut as health minister we're fairly close to star wars as it is

Amhran Nua · 15-11-2010 4:59pm

ch750536 wrote: »

Everyone by definition has to be independent as they can only represent those people who live in their constituency.

So eh, if you have the local councils looking after local issues, and you have TDs looking after local issues, who exactly is looking after the national issues? Why with a situation like that you might end up with shockingly weak and unqualified leadership in a country that stumbles into disaster after disaster, if you can imagine such a thing.

PS: no to dictatorships, its always some nimrod of a strongman that comes promising the sun, moon and stars, but ends up enriching him/herself while impoverishing the country.

The_Conductor · 15-11-2010 5:09pm

Forget about a dictatorship- there is precious little reason to even think about going down the military route, we simply have neither the manpower, nor the officer corps to take up the reins......

Yes- the country doesn't work- but its more as a result of the mindset of the people, than purely the politicians fault.

Parochial politics has always flourished here- and indeed was introduced by the Irish to the States- for better or for worse. Its always been the case that folk voted for their man in the Oireachtas, and expected their man (and it was inevitably a man) to bring whatever largess they could home to their constituency. How else did we get motorways bypassing little villages in Kerry South- and the most eye watering disbursements of Lottery funds in Donegal?

Irish people have always been clanish- we fight amongst ourselves, and then we will gang up on our neighbours- and then the rest of the country will gang up on the Jackeens in Dublin.......

Its not so much that we are incapable of governing ourselves- we are incapable of being governed. Its almost comical watching people protest about a hospital closure in the middle of no-where, when you consider that oncology services are being withdrawn from large swathes of the country (including a significant portion of Dublin).

We have our priorities arseways, and can't seem to get it in our thick heads, that money doesn't grow on trees......

Let the politicians continue 'as is', not because they are doing a good job- patently they are not, but because the Irish population deserve them......

Amhran Nua · 15-11-2010 5:25pm

smccarrick wrote: »

Its not so much that we are incapable of governing ourselves- we are incapable of being governed.

What a pile of bollocks. Ireland is one of the very few countries with proportional representation that also use the single transferable vote. If we used the party list system like everyone else, you'd see a very different story.

The only tyranny in the country is that of the parish pump, which is because TDs have to spend so much time polishing it in order to get re-elected, as a direct and sole result of the STV system.

Enough with the half baked national characterisations already.

sensibleken · 15-11-2010 5:56pm

th3 s1aught3r wrote: »

A good example.
Sometimes someone has to take charge if your country is being destroyed. I regret now quoting Star Wars, its seems to have excited all the nerds here on AH !!

who then? do you want the job?

We all know that if it came to a dictator taking power we would end up with Generalisimo Joe Duffy.

MagicSean · 15-11-2010 5:58pm

sensibleken wrote: »

who then? do you want the job?

We all know that if it came to a dictator taking power we would end up with Generalisimo Joe Duffy.

I'll have a go.

sensibleken · 15-11-2010 6:03pm

k_mac wrote: »

I'll have a go.

sweet! that was easier than i thought.

Can i be Grupenfuhrer of arts, culture and the Gaeltacht?

FreudianSlippers · 15-11-2010 6:06pm

I'll do it. Let's elect me as Taoiseach... I'll pwn some politicians and fix this **** already.

MagicSean · 15-11-2010 6:08pm

sensibleken wrote: »

sweet! that was easier than i thought.

Can i be Grupenfuhrer of arts, culture and the Gaeltacht?

I plan to cut all those departments. This is a recession, not Mardi Gras.

Batiste · 15-11-2010 6:09pm

a dictator is something we don't need,you know they tried to push a bill through surrepticously by the dail for a dictatorship structured government and that was not so long ago!

sensibleken · 15-11-2010 6:09pm

k_mac wrote: »

I plan to cut all those departments. This is a recession, not Mardi Gras.

fair enough. hows about off-licences. i can be in charge of those? we can all agree they need to open passed ten o'clock!

MagicSean · 15-11-2010 6:10pm

sensibleken wrote: »

fair enough. hows about off-licences. i can be in charge of those? we can all agree they need to open passed ten o'clock!

24 hour drinking for all. But prison sentences for people who piss or vomit on my streets.

FreudianSlippers · 15-11-2010 6:11pm

Batiste wrote: »

a dictator is something we don't need,you know they tried to push a bill through surrepticously by the dail for a dictatorship structured government and that was not so long ago!

OMG REALLY?!

:rolleyes:

A Strong Leader/ Dictator

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