Dictators

[EastMed]

Isn't it quite wonderful to witness the Arab Spring dispatch its motley crew of 'rulers for life' to the dustbin of history, and for the people to assert their democratic rights?
It gives us hope here in the West to summon the courage to get rid of our own dictators who have brought us to the brink of ruin: the banks, rating agencies, traders and their bought political cheerleaders.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinio...rs-are-the-dictators-of-the-west-6275084.html

 

[rareboy]

History teaches us that one set of dictators is usually only replaced with a new set of dictators.

 

[landers]

There's a common misconception that all dictators are inherently bad. Many certainly are, but not all.

 

[frankfrank]

History teaches us that one set of dictators is usually only replaced with a new set of dictators.

that's already happened in Egypt.

 

[bankside]

I'm not pleased with the theocrats getting into power. People who have never governed themselves are by no means qualified to do a good job of it. However the people may revise their votes once they see what theocrats do with that power.

So I see this in the long term. Probably a good thing.

 

[JayHawk]

Like Iran's theocracy was real good in the long term?

I see this devolving into chaos over the next ten or twenty years. Much more chaos than currently attributed to the middle east.

We shall see.

 

[rareboy]

^ The Ayatollahs simply took over the Shah's police and army and allowed them to run out of control.

But there is no right answer. The west has always tolerated the dictators who crush the will of their own people if it has been in the West's interest to do so.

Freedom is messy. It doesn't always turn out that democracy favours a secular inclusive society in medieval tribal societies.

 

[JayHawk]

You honestly think the course of Iran and the brutality with which things are run is a carry over from the Ayatollahs?