"Fair" is subjective. Which "we" are you referring to when you define it?

Treatments for cancer and men on the moon are each one step in a long history of scientific progress, not sudden changes, so I don't think that's a fair comparison. In each case, we had ideas as to where to start researching and followed where the results led.

Plane. Rocket to low-earth orbit. Rocket into space. Rocket capable of landing. (Gross oversimplification, I admit)

What would you see as the inbetween steps to get to a lasting benevolent dictatorship from a democracy?

If I thought I knew the answer to that, I'd be willing to try.