Voices
in
Japan

poll

Can a dictatorship better serve the public than a democracy in a pandemic?

39 Comments
© Japan Today

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

39 Comments
Login to comment

A dictatorship controls information, so how can you tell?

32 ( +32 / -0 )

A democracy would if there were one. There is no country on the planet today that is "ruled by the people." Those that call themselves democracies are ruled by a small group of people, who manipulate the rest through the media and so on. This is just as true of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea as it is of the "Land of the Free."

(Invalid CSRF)

17 ( +23 / -6 )

A dictator or authoritarian regime can CREATE a pandemic devastating lives and socioeconomic foundations at home and beyond borders. Worse, they may even try to take advantage of a pandemic. We've learn severe lessons with big sacrifice.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

I am shocked ANYONE voted yes, let alone the percentage.

24 ( +29 / -5 )

Depends on how stupid your potential dictator is.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Well, Japan is an oligarchy, either a dictatorship or a real democracy where leaders cared about the people would have done better. Currently, the Japanese leadership knows that they can never lose power no matter what they do, and you end up with the worst possible outcome. Regardless of what happens, next election = LDP landslide victory, as there's no alternative.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

The only people who want a dictatorship are those who want to be a dictator or those who don't know of any other way.

16 ( +19 / -3 )

whoa, look at that polarized yes and no's. I think the ideal middle ground is a democratic state with a strong leadership and a bit of strict state control, like South Korea. As I've read in various articles and forums, there is a chance that governments would take advantage of the pandemic to increase state surveillance under the guise of preventing the spread of the virus. It's a tug of war between freedom and security

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Toshihiro

As I've read in various articles and forums, there is a chance that governments would take advantage of the pandemic to increase state surveillance under the guise of preventing the spread of the virus. It's a tug of war between freedom and security

Good point. As they say, never let a good crisis go to waste. Australia has gradually been trying to wean people off physical cash and onto electronic money by criminalising cash transactions over $10,000, the idea being to prevent a vacuuming of cash out of the banks once the interest rates inevitably sink below 0%. Now they're pushing the line that cash is dangerous to your health as an added bonus.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Can a dictatorship better serve the public than a democracy in a pandemic?

Get ready for global dictatorship. The populace will beg for it for the very idea this question touches on. Dictatorship will be necessary to bring order out of increasing global economic, environmental and health chaos, both naturally occurring or manufactured. God help us all.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

I would be a kind dictator, so I said yes.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Late feb:The public (or least media and twitter users etc ) along with the medical community shout the loudest so schools close

Mid March: relaxed people now calls for return to daily life along with the business community shouting the largest . Koike tells people cherry blossom is a scared right

Early April: paniced people and medical leaders now loudest voice again. emergency declaration

Late April: focus turns to economy business leaders shout loudest again. emergency declaration resinded.(I guess)

Democracy is always best, although people more and more whoever shouts the loudest wins.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Certainly isn't in the USA!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

LandOfTheLostApr. 6  08:35 am JST

Nonsense! The only reason the PM is not calling a "state of emergency" is because it would mean jeopardizing his investments.

Nonsense. His investments are already well jeopardized with or without calling a "state of emergency".

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

That depends entirely on the leadership. Either type of governing can be more effective if the leadership makes the right calls to deal with the issues. Either type can be bumbling idiots or effective leaders in a crunch. It is not the type that matters, but the people. As it always is.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I said yes, but I have an issue.

The person or persons who made this have asked loaded the question. If asked "Is an authoritarian government better to serve the public in than a democratic one in times of crisis?" I think most people would have a different opinion. This is why democratic governments and heads of states have emergency powers which limit freedoms and ,yes, control information and commerce. While that immediately looks like a dictatorship, is not as most emergency powers granted have a set time limit and need a justification and agreement to be renewed.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

If people in discipline then only democracy works.... In case of pandemic...if people are not following government guidelines. In such case dictatorship is the only way. May be i wrong... But I feel so......

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Does this question coincide with the possibility of letting Abe Shinzo serve another term as party leader and prime minister? I think the PROC is a clear example that a semi-dicatorship or a full fledged dictatorship is not able to effectively curb a pandemic.

OK, China have managed to stop the spread, but the numbers we have from them are far from reliable, and the spread of the virus could've been stopped if the government just listened to their doctors. This is the result we get from a semi-dictatorship system. Transparency is key to fight an invisible enemy. You won't get that transparency with a dictatorship!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Why does this assume a dictator who knows what to do?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

No, a dictatorship has no obligation to tell you the truth

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It depends whether I get to be the dictator or not.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

A democracy would if there were one. There is no country on the planet today that is "ruled by the people."

Not ruled by the people, but the people in the US can and does elect leaders

Those that call themselves democracies are ruled by a small group of people, who manipulate the rest through the media and so on.

To a certain point, but we don’t have a country where the government confiscates property, money or seizes home, not yet at least, but it could come if we ever drop the ball and allow socialism to take root, it will and you will see more bread lines and not just during the Coronavirus pandemic.

This is just as true of the People's Democratic Republic of Korea as it is of the "Land of the Free."

Yeah, besides being the exception of craziness, no country is like that on that level.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Well, we've seen what the dictatorships in China have done. Initial arrests for whistleblowers and medical experts and then ... change.

The proto-dictatorships in Brazil and the US have resulted in thousands of deaths, neither leaders having any empathy, instead consumed by their own vanity and desperation to cling on to power. Trump even hawking an unproven "cure" which he allegedly has a financial interest in.

No. Never. Unless you want the trains to run on time and ignore those who die from the whims and insanity of dictators.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. We all know what eventually befalls those leaders who stamp on their people.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

To a certain point, but we don’t have a country where the government confiscates property, money or seizes home, not yet at least, but it could come if we ever drop the ball and allow socialism to take root

We do have a country where the government confiscates property and we all it eminent domain. It has nothing to do with socialism and has been around and legal the entire time we have been a country. Not saying I like it but it does exist

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The proto-dictatorships in Brazil and the US have resulted in thousands of deaths, neither leaders having any empathy, instead consumed by their own vanity and desperation to cling on to power.

What? Lol?

Trump even hawking an unproven "cure" which he allegedly has a financial interest in.

He does? He mentioned this to liberals?

No. Never. Unless you want the trains to run on time and ignore those who die from the whims and insanity of dictators.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. We all know what eventually befalls those leaders who stamp on their people.

Uh-Huh.....If you think so....

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

To a certain point, but we don’t have a country where the government confiscates property, money or seizes home, not yet at least,

Incorrect. Police confiscated property and seize homes all the time. The government, apart from the police, do so as well. It’s called civil forfeiture and implement domain, but don’t let facts get in your way.

but it could come if we ever drop the ball and allow socialism to take root, it will and you will see more bread lines and not just during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Someone is continuing to demonstrate their lack of understanding of socialism.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Incorrect. Police confiscated property and seize homes all the time.

The US does not confiscate property at will when it wants to displace a person or families without any warnings or court orders based on the government’s need without notifying or consulting the parties involved unlike a country like China or Cuba where they can indeed uproot anyone for any reason whatsoever.

Someone is continuing to demonstrate their lack of understanding of socialism.

Not at all. That’s like saying, liberals have a lack of understanding what capitalism is.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

I'm not sure.

It depends on who the leader is. A dictator can respond more quickly and forcefully, but a lot also depends on how wise their decision making and leadership is. So if it's a bad dictator, he/she could take the country into a completely idiotic direction and not be stopped by public opinion. A democratically elected leader, however, who performs badly can always be voted out of office if public opinion turns against them.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A dictatorship is going to make sure certain people take one for the team. If you are persona non grata get ready for your funeral.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

China pretty much answered this question, along with North Korea's pro-active approach (shoot the infected). Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Every time.

The US is getting there. They confiscate property (with the proper paperwork, of course - just like China). Some so-called conservatives ignore this. Some so-called liberals notice it and call for even more government powers in the name of socialism, giving them even more room to abuse the citizens.

All powered by fear.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

About 50% are sure, or think it might be the case that a dictatorship would be better.

Now, this is really scary stuff.

A virus will be eventually defeated with antibodies and vaccines in a few months, but the damage done to civil liberties will remain for generations.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

some EU countries are under a quasy martial law by now. Romania, for example.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How many dictators step down after a crisis? (I’m leaving the legendary Roman dictator Cincinnatus out of this.)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Exactly how Bertie Wooster said, there's not a true democracy worldwide. In the so called Western democracies, people had more freedoms and civic rights for sure. But these Western Democracies understood that if they want to compete with China, they must become like China. We are already seeing the transformation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Toshihiro: it's exactly what is happening, and they praised South Korea (that is already authoritarian enough) because saying "China" is scarier. They already told us our lives will be very different from what used to be. We must forget who we were, because that kind of life won't come back anymore.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Concerned citizen: finally someone who shares my fears.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites