logoalt Hacker News

Alupis01/03/20261 replyview on HN

It's important to note only the top of the pyramid was removed here - not the entire government. Most everything will continue as usual for quite some time, or forever.

Just like removing the President of the United States wouldn't mean the country descends into chaos.

It does send a very clear message to whoever becomes the top of the pyramid next, however.


Replies

seanmcdirmid01/03/2026

> Just like removing the President of the United States wouldn't mean the country descends into chaos.

Oh, it would definitely. There would be a power vacuum, people would wonder if the remaining government would obey the constitution or ignore it, etc...before Trump I would have said the process would have been resolved smoothly, now I have no idea.

Removing the head of a government doesn't break the government, but it definitely creates chaos before the top is filled. If the government has transitioned into a top-down autocracy, the chaos is even worse, as government agencies would have lost their ability to act independently over time. At that point, various factions start shooting at each other to try and take control of the country (aka a civil war). Throw in one or two foreign militaries in the background and there is even more reasons to start shooting.

show 1 reply