Benito Mussolini is a leader that is remembered through time as an evil mind. He was a very open al
ly of Nazi Germany and he established an ineffective dictatorial government as he continued to criti
cize the existing democratic governments. Mussolini believed that he was the sole person that knew
what the people of Italy wanted and what was best for them. However, he was soon going to receive a
rude awakening to the fact that he did not know everything. Mussolini established himself as the le
ader in a dictatorial government. Dictatorships are one party political systems that are ruled by
one leader or an elite group of people under the principle of authoritarianism. Some feel that dicta
torships are the most effective form of government because decisions are made quickly and extreme na
tionalism benefits the military and economy. These individuals value order, nationalism, and authori
ty. However, these systems often result in violence, repression of the public, and few provisions fo
r changes to the system. These dictatorships often occur when a nation is economically and political
ly unstable. Instability makes a country's people vulnerable to any person that makes promises of b
etter times. This is exactly what occurred in Italy during Mussolini's rise to power. Democracies a
re multiparty political systems that rest on the principle of rule by the people. Most people that l
ive in democracies have civil liberties, and political rights. In democracies equality, accountabil
ity, and freedom are highly valued. Nations that have multiparty political systems will meet the nee
ds of the public better through the means of political equality, a higher standard of living, and ci
vil liberties. Citizens of a democratic government are able to vote for their own representatives.
The government is basically supposed to enforce the decisions of the public. A weakness in a democr
atic government is the reality that actions are rarely made. It usually takes ages for simple laws
or bills to be passed. This is what Mussolini criticizes, the fact that democracy includes " . . . t
oo much foolishness, too much lost motion." This is true but no government can be perfect. A simpl
e law, that might just include putting dogs on leashes, takes years or even decades to get passed. M
ussolini believed that he alone was able to get things done fast and without lost motion. He though
t that the people did not know what they wanted and that they needed to be told what was best for th
em. Dictatorial governments, like that of Mussolini's, do get things done quickly, however, the peop
le have no way of voicing their thoughts on what the laws or bills should be. Without a voice of th
e people, there is no guarantee that the public will be pleased by the way the country is being run.
Considering that there potentially could be a revolution after a while under a dictatorship. I do
not believe that there were any other reasons, besides social conditions in Italy, for Mussolini's v
iews. It seems that he was in this all for himself. Mussolini saw the toll the aftermath of the wa
r took on Italy. The heavy loss of life, crushing burden of debt, high unemployment, and runaway inf
lation all occurred after the First World War. Every person thinks they have the solution to their c
ountries problems. Mussolini is one of these people except he had an extreme solution. He just mad
e a decision to benefit himself and place himself in a situation with bestowed power on him. The onl
y other reason that might have attributed for his views could have been an inferiority complex. When
Mussolini says, "Democracy is talking itself to death. The people do not know what they want; they
do not know what is best for them. There is too much foolishness, too much lost motion. I have st
opped the talk and the nonsense. I am a man of action. Democracy is beautiful in theory. You in A
merica will see that someday," he is basically criticizing a system that has produced the most power
ful and successful countries in history. When Mussolini mentioned that, "Democracy is talking itself
to death," he was making a point that was in most parts true. Democracy does require a lot of disc
ussion, so that it takes into consideration the different views of the people. It also takes quite
a long time to go over all the different thoughts and beliefs that exist among such a large group of
people. At times one can feel that nothing is happening and no changes are being made for the bette
r, but it is the most effective way of going about involving the people's views. Mussolini should n
ot set democracy aside because it requires a lot of effort; it still is the closest thing to a wellfunctioning and successful government. He just disregards anything that goes against his views and h
is huge ego. Mussolini views himself as some kind of savior to the Italian people when he is actual
ly a curse that will plague there future. Mussolini also thought that, "The people do not know what
they want, they do not know what is best for them." In fact he thought so highly of himself, that h
e placed himself above a human. He refers to the people as if they are children that need to be sho
wn what is right. However, he is actually leading the people of Italy into a future that benefits h
im. The people of Italy were more than capable of making decisions for themselves; some were probabl
y even smarter than him. Mussolini reminds me of an abusive father that enjoys punishing his childr
en for saying one word against him. He killed anyone who actually knew what he or she wanted and wa
s a strong person. Mussolini was in fact terrorizing his own country into accepting him as their so
le leader and voice. As I read Mussolini's finishing words, "Democracy is beautiful in theory. You
in America will see that someday," I could not help but consider how incorrect he actually was. He p
redicted that America would not last and that his new regime would outlive any other regime. Howeve
r, as we live in a world over half a century in the future, we have proven him wrong. America is ev
en stronger than it was then, its economy and military are the most powerful in the world. Behind t
his super-power is one government, a democratic government, which includes every single citizen that
wants a voice and a place to share their views. It seems that the people have done well for themse
lves, no thanks to a dictator. No one person built the greatness of the United States; it was a whol
e nation that built this country. Democracy is no longer only beautiful in theory, but also in life.
Benito Mussolini was a man of action; he was a man of violent repression. He viewed democracy as a
dream that had too many flaws. As he said there is "too much lost motion." In actuality it is a fr
eedom that causes all the motion, however, a free country does not turn on their government. People
are happy when they have their freedom, so they work hard to keep it. Mussolini criticized and exa
mined the potential of other governments, but the one he should have been examining was his own. He
did not consider how the Italian people would react to neglect. Mussolini overall was one man who t
hought he could solve a nation's problems and that was the only way it could work; no one else had a
ny idea what they were doing.
benito mussolini leader that remembered through time evil mind very o
pen ally nazi germany established ineffective dictatorial government continued criticize existing de
mocratic governments mussolini believed that sole person that knew what people italy wanted what bes
t them however soon going receive rude awakening fact know everything mussolini established himselfE
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