this post was submitted on 17 May 2025
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When is authoritarianism appropriate and when is it not?

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[โ€“] [email protected] 7 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Gotta disagree on the authoritarianisms. Millionaires have consistently been shit at running countries. All of them run the country like a business, where citizens are workers that can't be fired and very few are able to quit. They also always play the cards to favour their "friends", dragging the society towards kleptocracy.

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

citizens are workers that can't be fired

I'd guess that they're looking to change that in the USA.

[โ€“] [email protected] -2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A dentist is a pretty good authority. So's a plumber. There are a hundred more examples we could cite.

Are we saying that running the country is an exceptional case?

[โ€“] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

A dentist has no authority over you. If you choose not to brush your teeth they can't force you to, they can't do dental work unless you willingly seek them put and consent.

A plumber has not authority to enter your home or mess with your plumbing unless you invite them in.

You're misusing the word "authority" and applying it out of context.

[โ€“] [email protected] 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

We confer power to the dentist and the plumber because the dentist and the plumber are experts in their fields.

We confer power to our other authorities, political and otherwise, for similar reasons.

That's how authority works.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

What? Take the discussion seriously.

We don't confer power to them. I am the authority and I consent to the dentist cleaning my teeth but the second I say "no" their ability to operate is taken away.

Try telling "no" to a cop trying to arrest you.

[โ€“] [email protected] -1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Not serious? Well argue with yourself then.

[โ€“] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

Yea not serious.

Authority means force.

Your dentist does not have the ability, to force you to do anything. They are an "authority" in the sense they know a lot about teeth so we willingly ask them for help.

That is clearly not the same type of authority being discussed in authoritarianism.

Stop comparing Hitler to your dentist.