Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Al Gore vs George Bush: the moderate's perspective -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: cosmicforce who wrote (2043)	10/10/2000 9:23:13 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 10042

Edit: but seriously, do you think it matters all that much whether a dictator or the Supreme Soviet takes your weapons?? Yes... it does make a difference.... Totalitarian regimes are much harder to do away with and much more complete in their repression of individual freedoms. And while dictators come and go... Totalitarian regimes practically require an all-out revolution and tremendous economic restructuring due to the systemic dominance they have over all aspects of life, business, and culture. Pinochet was a dictator, yet capitalism flourished under him... (not sanctioning his abuses, but merely stating a fact). When he departed, the foundation for representative democracy was in place. In sum... a dictator is usually only as powerful as the coalition of support it is able to manage (or the degree to which competing factions can be played off against one another, each of which maintain some means of defending their interests), as well as the degree to which the average citizens are willing to tolerate their authority The overthrow of Somoza provides a classic example. He was removed as a result of the middle class businessmen becoming fed up with the degree to which he increased his personal power at their expense. Using the catalyst of the Sandinista guerillas (which they thought they could control), they tossed Somoza out and then found themselves dominated by a Sandinista leadership lacking any desire of sharing power with them. As Sandinista repression and control over the controls of government increased, waves of refugees fled from the nation, including more of the business and middle class entrepreneurs. The confiscation of personal firearms, and institution of "neighborhood watch" programs then escalated the vulnerability and intimidation, respectively, of whoever dared remain behind. Regards, Ron