I had a big argument with some friends a few days back. All of us who were arguing are Indians.All except me felt that a benevolent military dictatorship is the way out of the current political morass that India finds itself. I have heard this viewpoint many time amongst the well educated, well off and otherwise conscientious people from India. And every time if shocks me out of my usual stupor. Show me one country were a dictatorship is/was a success (except probably Singapore and Turkey to a lesser extent. Both of these are much smaller countries and very different entities), where a military rule has not ended in tragedy or a disaster. Most third world countries are struggling with the same issues that India has been and most have made a royal mess of it. But the countries that have veered towards dictatorship have lost a great deal more than those that have kept their faith in representational modes of government. I also don't consider China a success. 50 years back, Soviet Union was also considered a great success by its fans outside USSR.