NationStates Jolt Archive

Which of the follwoing do you believe is the worst, nastiest, most intolerant, despotic, cruel, adjective defying dictator in the world today? This applies to current leaders today, my apologies for the misrepresentation. I realize that this is somewhat general, but most people judge a government on different grounds than other people, it would be unfair to make the poll more specific.

Which of the follwoing do you believe is the worst, nastiest, most intolerant, despotic, cruel, adjective defying dictator in the world today?

Theres so many *wink wink* die generaliser die :mp5:

Today?

Probably Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe. There have been worse in the past, though.

Pol Pot?

Robert Mugabe. (see wikipedia).

Did you know?
Fabian Escalante, who was long tasked with protecting the life of Castro has calculated the exact number of assassination schemes and/or attempts by the CIA to be 638. Some such attempts have included an exploding cigar, a fungal-infected scuba-diving suit, and a mafia-style shooting. Some of these plots are depicted in a documentary entitled 638 Ways to Kill Castro.[69] One of these attempts was by his ex-lover Marita Lorenz whom he met in 1959. She subsequently agreed to aid the CIA and attempted to smuggle a jar of cold cream containing poison pills into his room. When Castro realized, he reportedly gave her a gun and told her to kill him but her nerve failed.[70] Castro once said in regards to the numerous attempts on his life, "If surviving assassination attempts were an Olympic event, I would win the gold medal."

Who the crap voted for Putin?

He's not actually that bad, you know. Not great, but a lot better than most on that list...

Pol Pot?

Pol Pot died in 1998, this is for current leaders only.

Today?

Probably Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe. There have been worse in the past, though.

Mugabe was my eleventh choice, but I went with the ten people I thought would know best, then there was other. I was planning on putting in Mugabe, but I thought that current events should put Shwe on the list, instead of Mugabe.

Muammar al-Qaddafi for the lose!

Mugabe was my eleventh choice, but I went with the ten people I thought would know best, then there was other. I was planning on putting in Mugabe, but I thought that current events should put Shwe on the list, instead of Mugabe.
He's a bit worse than than Achmujenidad and Putin, neither of which have casually starved their population and created massive hyperinflation just to stick it to one particular regime or other, that's for sure.

Which of the follwoing do you believe is the worst, nastiest, most intolerant, despotic, cruel, adjective defying dictator in the world today? This applies to current leaders today, my apologies for the misrepresentation. I realize that this is somewhat general, but most people judge a government on different grounds than other people, it would be unfair to make the poll more specific.

Very general, yes. I think that Mugabe could have a place in that list, also.

Anyway, if we restrict the definition of "worst" to "most inept", I'd say Bush: he has dilapidated whatever most of the international credit the USA had gained after the Cold War and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, plus his policies about internal economics suck. Clinton left the USA in a better shape that they are to-day. (he's not a dictator, though... just the leader of a non-fully-democratic republic and the representative of big business in the US government)

Robert Mugabe. Seriously, that guy can not run a country.

Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, Robert Mugabe, and Kim Jong-Il all tie for first (last?) place. I can't believe people who say Bush is just as bad- I mean, come on, Bush is hardly competent, but he is NOWHERE near the level these guys are.

George Bush isn't a dictator, just a 'compassionate conservative' whose unorthodox tax-and-spend theories increased federal regulation of businesses while increasing the deficit massively. In twenty years, he'll be remembered as a mediocre, uninteresting president who split the Republican party in two.

George Bush isn't a dictator, just a 'compassionate conservative' whose unorthodox tax-and-spend theories increased federal regulation of businesses while increasing the deficit massively. In twenty years, he'll be remembered as a mediocre, uninteresting president who split the Republican party in two.

But is he the worst? Probably for the USA, but when compared to Mugabe and al-Bashir I'd much rather have Bush elected for 8 years than Mugabe or al-Bashir for.....life.

Pol Pot died in 1998, this is for current leaders only.


Then why title the thread worst leader ever?

Putting Bush and Putin in there is ridiculous. And whoever is voting for them is the reason for the problems of the world.

I'd say Kim Jong-Il, because he himself could actually improve the lives of his people with little effort.

Kim Jong Il is the president of North Korea silly :rolleyes:

my vote goes for Burma seeing as how thats the place that has gone downhill the most (though Bush is a close second)

I'd say Kim Jong-Il, because he himself could actually improve the lives of his people with little effort.

actually he is in a rather tight spot no matter what he does as is what happens when you give the military a blank check

I mean sure he could start waving the white flag but how long would he manage to do it for?

Can I withdraw my vote? I voted for Putin, then got convinced by the other arguments.

I'd vote for the dictator of Sudan (what's his name again?), there's still a genocide occuring in Darfur, they just haven't mentioned it much in a while.
Or perhaps Mugabe, or Thatcher (in the past though but she created a hyper-inflation policy in Britain as well)
:mad:
They all go under "other" anyway.

I note that no one's voted for Castro, I happen to like him and feel sorry for his country and him, he seems to actually try to make his country a decent place to live (their education [100% youth literacy] and health systems put europe and the USA to shame, especially considering that Europe and the USA don't have fairly substantial sanctions on top of them)

Call to power. Kim Jong-Il has absolute power. He could make agreements with the corrupt aid organizations and bring a lot of money and help into his nation by simple words. And that's just immediately. He'd have to move away from the communist system to actually fix the problems though.

But his main job is simply staying in power so of course that's not going to happen.

Than Shwe in the absence of Robert Mugabe.

Strictly speaking, Bush is not a dictator, and so can't be voted for i the poll.

Evilest? Ahmedinejad.
Least competent? Dubya (although Mugabe is a close second)

Anyone who puts nuclear weapons and military in general as a higher priority than his people having enough food to survive or education to progress.

Call to power. Kim Jong-Il has absolute power. He could make agreements with the corrupt aid organizations and bring a lot of money and help into his nation by simple words. And that's just immediately. He'd have to move away from the communist system to actually fix the problems though.

But his main job is simply staying in power so of course that's not going to happen.

yes magically the North Korean Generals will stop asking for money out of the kindness of there hearts:rolleyes:

and no if he moved the slightest away from the 1984 his father made he will quickly be branded and traitor and killed

Evilest? Ahmedinejad.

why does he torture orphans or something?

Anyone who puts nuclear weapons and military in general as a higher priority than his people having enough food to survive or education to progress.

you can't vote for all the leaders silly

Mahmoud am-whats-it-ijad is not actually the guy in charge of Iran, though...

There's a pack of Mullahs somewhere, busily being in charge of the country.

Robert Mugabe. Seriously, that guy can not run a country.

Agrred. definately the worst leader as he fails both in terms of liberty+freedom and efficiency/working country

Yeah, why are Bush and Putin on the poll? They're certainly not the best ever, but they're certainly not the absolute worst.

Evilest? Ahmedinejad.
Oh fucking please.

Even this poll has people far worse than he. Than Shwe is impressively evil, and his regime is built on the slave labour of the ethnic minorities that they keep in check by blowing up their villages now and then and sticking them in camps.

Yeah, why are Bush and Putin on the poll? They're certainly not the best ever, but they're certainly not the absolute worst.
Hey, you're back!

How's the last while been?

Mahmoud am-whats-it-ijad is not actually the guy in charge of Iran, though...

There's a pack of Mullahs somewhere, busily being in charge of the country.

Yep. Ahmadinijad is just a figure-head for the Mullahs. He has no business being on the list, whereas Mugabe is a heck of a lot worse than most candidates there.

o.o Who here chose "Bush"? I don't like him either but I doubt he's worse than Jintao and Ahmadinejad at the same time.

Today?

Probably Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe. There have been worse in the past, though.

Does Robert Mugabe hold hundreds of thousands of people in gulags and basically run his state as a giant concentration camp?

Kim is much worse.

Does Robert Mugabe hold hundreds of thousands of people in gulags and basically run his state as a giant concentration camp?
Basically, yes.
Kim is much worse.
I personally disagree.

There's no way it's not Kim Jong-Il. DPRK is such a hellhole that the CIA can't even create an entry for it in the World Factbook. It is that airtight. A tourist (or resident, presumably) cannot say anything against the government or question its ideology: anywhere, at any time, for any reason. I think at least in Burma or Zimbabwe you could go out in a field somewhere and say you hate the government; you certainly can do it in the U.S., if you don't mind the farmer yelling at you, that is....;)

I live in the country USA. Its the worst Country in the world. They don't care about the American people, they don't say shit on the news thats important. Bush wants Billions of dollars for his war. I think America has hit its lowest point. It will not rise, but only fall, I predict the EU. to be the next greatest ruling in the history of the world, it will surpass the RE.

By the way the country is slowly becoming a Ray Bradbury prediction. Material gains is the only things those rednecks think about. I support the troops, I want them back in the USA. AMerica should stop shoving there noses into other Countries Businesses... Seriously.. If the American government stopped spending on War, and Space sh!t the United States would be a healthy and great nation to live in..

By the way the American Dollar is in lower value then the Canadian Dollar. LOL!

bump

I live in the country USA. Its the worst Country in the world. They don't care about the American people, they don't say shit on the news thats important. Bush wants Billions of dollars for his war. I think America has hit its lowest point. It will not rise, but only fall, I predict the EU. to be the next greatest ruling in the history of the world, it will surpass the RE.

You honestly think that the USA is the worst country in the world? Seriously? The US has its share of problems, but the worst country in the world? Worse than North Korea?

There's also this thing:

If the American government stopped spending on...Space sh!t the United States would be a healthy and great nation to live in..

Are you saying that the US should stop funding it's space program?

o.o Who here chose "Bush"? I don't like him either but I doubt he's worse than Jintao and Ahmadinejad at the same time.

Neither of them is shitting on my countries constitution and permitting my country to torture people.

Bush has already knocked over 2 sovereign nations, and continues to make overtures at a third.
Despite over half of his constituents, who object.

Any other recent leaders done that?

Indeed, the poll and the thread title are in conflict.

Kim Jong Il, by the way.

Yep. Ahmadinijad is just a figure-head for the Mullahs. He has no business being on the list, whereas Mugabe is a heck of a lot worse than most candidates there.

I thought all the huff and puff he created was also to destabilize the mullahs power base?

You honestly think that the USA is the worst country in the world? Seriously? The US has its share of problems, but the worst country in the world? Worse than North Korea?

There's also this thing:



Are you saying that the US should stop funding it's space program?

No. I was just mad.. North Korea, and Mongolia. The US government doesn't want to let anyone know about anything important that is going on.

No not completly stop the funding of space programs. Just limit them.. Study the things that can destory the planet not things that are really not important...

Healthcare, education , and defense should be the direction the US should be heading.

No not completly stop the funding of space programs. Just limit them.. Study the things that can destory the planet not things that are really not important...

Healthcare, education , and defense should be the direction the US should be heading.

Define 'things that can destroy the planet'. Asteroids and the like are surely high up on the list.

Oh yes, the US really needs to spend more money on defense...

Yeah they should spend on DEFENSE. Explain to me how some Arabs came to the United States Hijacked some aircrafts and flew it into 3 world wide known structures.... and another hijacked plane got taken down in PA. explain that... not on attackin other Countries but have a safe Country were no one could stand a chance attacking.. Explain that to me Ham.. This Country needs more defense.... and not stick there noses into others business. I sensed sarcasm in your statement.

Asteroid is a perfect example.

Yeah they should spend on DEFENSE. Explain to me how some Arabs came to the United States Hijacked some aircrafts and flew it into 3 world wide known structures.... and another hijacked plane got taken down in PA. explain that... not on attackin other Countries but have a safe Country were no one could stand a chance attacking.. Explain that to me Ham.. This Country needs more defense.... and not stick there noses into others business. I sensed sarcasm in your statement.

Asteroid is a perfect example.

Uh-huh. You do realise that the USA spends more money on defense than the rest of the entire world combined, right?

Ah, I see what you mean now. AFAIK the space program is badly underfunded, so I'm not all that sure the solution is to spend less...

What's with the joke options in the poll, when it doesn't even have the likes of Mugabe, Gaddafi or one of any number of other dictators and such?! :|


Robert Mugabe
Kim Jong Il
Fidel Castro
Muammar Gaddafi
Hu Jintao

There are more then enough to choose from.


Very general, yes. I think that Mugabe could have a place in that list, also.

Anyway, if we restrict the definition of "worst" to "most inept", I'd say Bush: he has dilapidated whatever most of the international credit the USA had gained after the Cold War and the collapse of the Eastern Bloc, plus his policies about internal economics suck. Clinton left the USA in a better shape that they are to-day. (he's not a dictator, though... just the leader of a non-fully-democratic republic and the representative of big business in the US government)
To be even the least bit fair though. The economic (recession) problems he inherited when taking office, dated back well into 2000, and to some extent, as far back as 1999. Plus 9/11 didn't help much either.

"Non-fully-democratic republic" - You say that as if it's a bad thing.


If the American government stopped spending on War, and Space sh!t the United States would be a healthy and great nation to live in..
Stop spending money on space?!? On one of our last, probably best hopes for short-medium-longterm survival and prosperity. As well as all the scientific and technical knowledge/advancements. Not to mention giving up our rightful place among the stars.

Most of your options don't list necessarily bad leaders, just ones whose interests run against American/Western interests. I'd say any African leader is a complete failure.

Uh-huh. You do realise that the USA spends more money on defense than the rest of the entire world combined, right?

Ah, I see what you mean now. AFAIK the space program is badly underfunded, so I'm not all that sure the solution is to spend less...

You got any proof ? all these forums are about proof so prove it. Plus other Countries are not in the same financial situation as the US. The US Spends there money left and right. So yea they lead the world in Defense $$$ spent. But the US is the biggest threat..

Which of the follwoing do you believe is the worst, nastiest, most intolerant, despotic, cruel, adjective defying dictator in the world today? This applies to current leaders today, my apologies for the misrepresentation. I realize that this is somewhat general, but most people judge a government on different grounds than other people, it would be unfair to make the poll more specific.

George Bush isn't a dictator.

You got to support what you are saying by the way..

Space is a thing that is seen in two ways. Study space but who gives if there are small living organisms in a different galaxy... I dont CARE. Maybe if it is important its not as important as the things going on in the USA... NASA should only spend time on events that could end the world.

USA helps Iraq, Africa, and other middle eastern Countries. But doesn't help itself, great example is the aftermath of Hurricane Katherina... Not enough funding, and the CIty to this day has not rebuilt in some places... Explain that... The United States are filled with rednecks that are only looking for material gains. Thats IT!

Why are Ahmadinejad and Bush listed as "dictators" when both won their positions in democratic elections?

Wait wait, George Bush has more votes than Than Shwe and The Sudan's guy put together? What is wrong with you people. Sure Bush is fairly incompotent, and very very mediocre but whoever voted him the worst world leader is dillusional. George Bush has nothing like a North Korean camp 22.

Lets compate Bush to Than Shwe and Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir

Than Shwe
~ Been in power since 1992
~ Ordered a new constitution to be written
~ Routinely detains journalists who critisize him
~ Placed Aung San Suu Kyi back under house arrest in 2003
~ Reclusive

Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir
~ Been in power since 1989
~ Called in tanks and artillery to remove one of his critics in parliament in 1999
~ Supported/turned his back for nearly a decade of genocide and continues to do so.

George Bush
~ Elected 2000,2004
~ Up to 95% approval rating after 9/11
~ Criticized for poor FEMA relief after Katrina
~ Sponsored controversial Patriot Act
~ One sucessful invasion, one invasion that hasn't gone to plan

I live in the country USA. Its the worst Country in the world. They don't care about the American people, they don't say shit on the news thats important. Bush wants Billions of dollars for his war. I think America has hit its lowest point. It will not rise, but only fall, I predict the EU. to be the next greatest ruling in the history of the world, it will surpass the RE.
HIS WAR? Orly? Bush's approval ratings in late 2001 and early 2002 were astronomical, well above 80%. This is not "His War" America supported it in the beginning.

You got any proof ? all these forums are about proof so prove it. Plus other Countries are not in the same financial situation as the US. The US Spends there money left and right. So yea they lead the world in Defense $$$ spent. But the US is the biggest threat..

Here you go.

Rank Country Military expenditures (USD) Date of information
— World Total 1,200,000,000,000 2007 (projected est.)[1]
— NATO Total 849,875,309,000
1 United States 623,000,000,000 2008 (Projected)[2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

What are you talking about? The US is the biggest threat to what? Why are you encouraging a 'threat' to spend more money on defense?

Bush has already knocked over 2 sovereign nations, and continues to make overtures at a third.
Despite over half of his constituents, who object.

Any other recent leaders done that?
Robert Mugabe has bankrupted, faminized (new word?) and effectively crippled his country. Kim Jong-Il has raised himself up as a God, and while his people continue to live in worsening conditions, he countinues a "Military-First" policy. Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir has most likely sponsored genocide. That just doesnt stack up.

Maybe if you were doing historical leaders, but since this is current, you probably should include GW.

Why are Ahmadinejad and Bush listed as "dictators" when both won their positions in democratic elections?

Just because people voted for them doesn't mean they aren't oppressive and dangerous.

Just because people voted for them doesn't mean they aren't oppressive and dangerous.
It does, however, mean that they are not dictators, which is what I objected to. In Ahmadinejad's case there is at least an element of doubt, since one has to have roughly his views in order not to be banned, but it is still fairly clear he has wide popular support in Iran. In Bush's case, it is simply indefensible to call him a dictator. Whether or not either are "oppressive" or "dangerous" is completely irrelevent - I did not comment on either of these things, so your objection is a strawman.

What crackpot voted Pervez Musharraf over Kim Jong IL?

Just because people voted for them doesn't mean they aren't oppressive and dangerous.
How is Bush oppresive and dangerous on the homefront here?

Bashir. Sponsoring/supporting/helping/causing genocide is utterly unforgivable.

Neither of them is shitting on my countries constitution and permitting my country to torture people.
Oh so because it's not YOUR country that's involved that somehow makes these people better world leaders? In just what self-centered, nation-based un-international mentality?

Just because people voted for them doesn't mean they aren't oppressive and dangerous.
George Bush doesn't even the beginnings of compare to most of the people, even those on the list, in terms of Wrongdoing. Achmujenidad is a load of hot air, and he's losing support at home due to his abrasive politics.

Bashir has casually taken a step back from the genocide in his country and is now basically ignoring it. Than Shwe is generally pretty Bad And Evil, and is supportive of putting ethnic minorities into slave labour camps. And Kim Jong-Il is just generally Bad And Wrong.

*edits*

By the way, anyone who voted for Fidel Castro is a complete cretin, seeing as he hasn't really done much that's particularly evil...

Kim Jong-Il takes the cake for this one. I don't think there's a single other country on the planet that's more reclusive than his. His focus on the military has been driving his people deeper and deeper into starvation and poverty. And let's not forget the brutality and paranoia of his regime.

Robert Mugabe, hands down. We have about a thousand Zimbabwean refugees in my city and the stories they tell are just heartbreaking. Its something like 700,000 Zimbabwean Dollars just to buy a Coke

How is Bush oppresive and dangerous on the homefront here?

He is dangerous because every time he gives a speech; children think they no longer need school. There are all the migraines he has caused when people try to figure out what he is saying let alone trying to determine the meaning of the new words he creates.

It was a close call, but since Robert Mugabe is no longer in charge, Mr. Kim won by a hair.

Kim Jong-IL is by far the worst. The guy gets the finest foods imported at will, while telling his people to starve. Not only that but he's a mass murderer and a paedophile. Can't get much more evil than that. I'm surprised someone would vote a guy like Putin worse than Kim. They are not even close.

It was a close call, but since Robert Mugabe is no longer in charge, Mr. Kim won by a hair.
Err... Robert Mugabe certainly is still in charge, and will win again in 2008, and hence will be ruling until 2013, his death from old age notwithstanding ;)

Some people on that list are democratically elected rulers of sovereign nations and therefore not dictators.

It's really hard to say, because it depends a lot of what you consider.

If you consider the total amount of wrong he's doing in the world as direct and indirect consequences of his acts, it's GW Bush. His imperial policies are unsettling the whole world, leading to chaos, massive sufferings and increased risks of nuclear war, his refusal to act on climate change is endangering the future of mankind.

If you speak on how bad he behaves at home, I would probably say Kim Jong Il, but at least, he doesn't do much wrong outside of his country (because he doesn't have the power to do it, sure, but still).