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Dave1510
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Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

It seems that worldwide, country after country is moving from dictatorship to open democracy. Even in Zimbabwe, after years of rule by a tyrant, they seem to be on the verge of being free of dictatorship. Many of these dictators (such as Idi Amin and Robert Mugabe) started out with bold claims of ruling "for the good of the people" and only having the best interests of their country at heart. Yet the old age of "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" seems to hold true with every dictator.

Even the most passionate and liberal democrat, once they get their hands on absolute power, seem extremely reluctant to release or share this power. As time progresses, more and more of their decisions are about retaining control and keeping power and less and less about what is in the interests of the people. Even when the people themselves protest, the dictators often assure them that "they know what is in the people's best interests" and if only the people would stop challenging the dictator, that all will be right in the world.

So what do you do if you are in a dictatorship? What are the strategies that seem to work in overthrowing dictators? Some argue that you just have to wait until they leave but as Cuba showed, dictators often like to hand power to other dictators who they feel will keep the control absolute. So what do people feel that they could do if they ever found themselves under an authoritarian regime?

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2/Apr/08, 14:29 Send Email to Dave1510     Send PM to Dave1510   MSN  
 
simpson

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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

LOLOL

LOVE the creaking metaphor here Dave. emoticon

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2/Apr/08, 14:30 Send PM to simpson   Blog  
 
Dave1510
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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Mahatma Gandhi emoticon

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"Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained" William Blake (1757-1827)
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Kittyxxx121
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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

personally, If I were a dictator... I'd buy a microwave that seats 8. Messy but fun.

As to get rid of one.... I'd convince the CIA that they had a lot of oil in their garden. Troops would be there a dawn. problem solved.

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Cause it's easier to fly,
There's a place that never dies in the southern sun,
Cause your love is on the run,
Let me out,
Set me free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3uJnqkIEMw
2/Apr/08, 14:43 Send Email to Kittyxxx121     Send PM to Kittyxxx121   MSN   Blog  
 
Dave1510
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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

It looks like Mugabe has resigned - well done Zimbabwe :)

Do you think there is some form of karmic balance in the world and as one dictator vanishes another one appears somewhere else? ;)

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"Those who restrain desire do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained" William Blake (1757-1827)
2/Apr/08, 20:39 Send Email to Dave1510     Send PM to Dave1510   MSN  
 
Kittyxxx121
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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

Not yet he hasn't, nor do I think he will go quietly. As for dictators.... 10 a penny these days.

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Cause it's easier to fly,
There's a place that never dies in the southern sun,
Cause your love is on the run,
Let me out,
Set me free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3uJnqkIEMw
3/Apr/08, 10:57 Send Email to Kittyxxx121     Send PM to Kittyxxx121   MSN   Blog  
 
snowkitty
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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

If you want to get rid of a dictator you can't beat a good sniper.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely, and I feel that holds true for anyone that's in power including our so called democratic government.

Why is it that the few govern the many, in essence it doesn't really make any kind of sense as power should be with the majority

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"If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all." -Noam Chomsky
3/Apr/08, 11:02 Send Email to snowkitty     Send PM to snowkitty   Blog  
 
simpson

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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

Oo, I dunno about that, snowkitty. You run the risk of creating a majoritarian tyranny every bit as foul as the most repulsive dictatorship. Had we this kind of majoritarian rule in this country, we'd probably still have the death penalty, gay people's rights would be back in the dark ages and black and minority ethnic people would still be second class citizens.

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3/Apr/08, 11:08 Send PM to simpson   Blog  
 
wobbly bits
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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

I think the dictator is only the tip of the iceberg what's below the surface and not apparent at first could be a lot more dangerous.

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4/Apr/08, 8:23 Send Email to wobbly bits     Send PM to wobbly bits  
 
Uberposter
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Re: Zimbabwe thoughts - How do you get rid of a dictator?

There is only one way to remove a dictator, and that is a democratic bullet in the brain.

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7/Apr/08, 18:52 Send Email to Uberposter     Send PM to Uberposter   Blog  
 


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