[TheOtherHobbes]

I'd much rather neither, but apparently that's utopian.

Dictatorship is an almost inevitable outcome of huge wealth inequality.

At the very least political checks and balances erode rapidly, because most politicians, judges, and media people love easy money. If a billionaire throws money at them they'll do whatever they're told to do.

There aren't many systems that protect non-compliers from negative consequences when they're surrounded by corruption.