POW, POW, POWER
Power is the ability to determine the direction to social living – whether it is mine or my community. It is about an elevated authority to make something happen. It is the capacity to move institutions in a desired direction. It is the prerequisite of social change.
History is a record of the human pursuit of power. And that history shows us that there are two primary reasons why humans want to be so endowed. One is to help accomplish some nobility that contributes to the common good. The view is that power shared is power multiplied and is viewed as the spirit of collaboration. The other is to elevate one’s personal sense of worth to a new status. The view is that power is a commodity and power gathered is worth enhanced.
In this pursuit humans have ended up with two radically different styles of government. And these two styles are the end result of the two basic reasons why we want power. In pursuing power for the enhancement of personal worth the end result is forms of despotism. In pursuing power for the sake of nobility the end result is forms of democracy.
Both of these forms of government are community events. But the result is radically different in terms of social blessing. In a despotism a few are blessed at the expense of the many. In a democracy the many are blessed through shared expense.
When we have a democracy it is grounded in the notion that everyone is born worthy and therefore the common good is the goal of governance. When we have a despotism, it is grounded in the notion that only those at the top are worthy and their good is the goal of governance.
It is possible to have a despotism disguised as a democracy. All that is necessary is for the devotees of despotism to take over the structures of democracy and use those structures to promote the goals of despotism.
However, this can only happen when the citizenry assumes that democracy is the structures of governance rather than the people’s investment in these structures.
If the citizenry wishes to remain empowered then it must be able to distinguish between despotic leadership and democratic leadership and vote for the latter.
Robert
As not a particularity unbiased observer, I would say that Republicans are the ones more interested in the despotic form of government.
With historical precedence in mind, it must be said – we also have the POWER to revolt if necessary.
If only people could distinguish between these two types of power when entering the ballot box. We MUST get the Trump despot and his cohorts out of office!