Is it okay to manipulate people for the greater good?

[Johnimiester]

Let's imagine there is a corrupt country, one that has a large multitude of broken systems, and a force that impacts the people of this country and their emotional, physical, and mental health in a negative manner. However, these people are not at all psychologically ready for a mass public effort of upheaval, or able to understand the implications and state of what could happen after, allowing a tyrant or extremist to easily take power if they actually revolted and succeeded. Someone decides to manipulate in a discreet and underhanded manner, through a variety of methods, the crowd psychology. They become confident enough to adopt something like what Adolf Riddler would do during his speeches, becoming more and more radical and loud during their speeches, flailing their hands in the air in a dramatic manner. This person wants nothing more than the common good, and wants to achieve what the people want from their government. Is this okay? Is this something that should be encouraged, or should the people know the true reality of their situation?

[Ad Bot]

[ZombieDude]

if they're doing it for a good purpose i don't see why not

[blueblur121]

Manipulating stupid people is okay if it helps them be less stupid later on.

[Ben Grapevine]

I feel like you used a bunch of large words to try and sound smart.  Also you have an ambiguous title.

[AutoBahn]

Manipulating stupid people is okay if it helps them be less stupid later on.

[ABlockOfCheese]

I think it should only be done if the manipulation is to achieve the desires of those being manipulated.

[Camera]

>a good king

[takato14]

Manipulating stupid people is okay if it helps them be less stupid later on.

[PowerDag]

depends
what's the greater good

[mus]

I feel like you used a bunch of large words to try and sound smart.

This, but yes.

[Katadeus]

So North Korea

[Nonnel]

No.

[WaterOre]

So long as you don't abuse your power come clean after doing it I don't see why not

[SWAT One]

Well that depends.  If it's a corrupt system already, with that much of a grip on the public, then the government is likely an extreme fascist police state or a communist state.  Either way, speaking in terms of the common good would require an incentive– what do the people want, and what perceptions of government have they developed that would make these incentives valuable, and your campaign viable?  It would take great power to wrest the control from the government, without representing yourself as someone who could do that– a likely repetition of current regimes.  It's likely that an autocratic system would lead to another, and yet another, thus furthering this vicious cycle.

[ChappersTeddy]

when op says ''greater good'' i imagine him being Gellert Grindelwald


heheh references