[Lucky]

When my father was in college, a good 40 yrs ago, he had a professor who knew the Prime Minister. The P.M.'s name was Diefenbaker, and he had just lost an attempt to win re-election. So, with newfound spare time on his hands one afternoon, he, the prof and the rest of the class all went to the Prof's house and had beers.

You all know how it works, you shoot the shoot for a while, then the golden truth-serum starts to take hold. Eventually the PM starts to discuss the mindset of power. He says that during his first bid, he knew he was right, and he knew that he would make a big difference for the better if he had the chance to do his thing. In essence, his cause was righteous, and he knew it throughout his being. Then when you are in power you start to change, so slowly that you don't even notice it. Well, when he went for re-election, only one thing mattered anymore, not losing. Ideals, values, everything was secondary to staying in power. He said that he wasn't proud of it, but that's the way it was.

That's the story, pretty much. My interpretation is that power IS a drug, it IS physically addictive and habit forming. Term limits are huge, hugely important things. I thought for a second, maybe it's the fear of losing power that makes people bad leaders, then. What if they were a King, with no elections to lose? Then their love of power wouldn't be threatened, and they could rule wisely? Then I realized, there would be other royales who loved power too, and would plot to replace the King, so the King would still lash out to preserve his power.

I can understand why hearing a story like that from my father would influence me more than someone who only heard a phrase from some ancient Greek scholar, about power corrupting. But I don't understand why people aren't clamouring for more power themselves? Why doesn't the populace feel like they're coming off of heroin when gov'ts take freedoms away from them? Is it true that some people would rather be ruled than the ruler? I can't see how so many people could be genetically pre-determined to submit, when history shows their relatives fought. So is it possible that we already have lost our power, and that's why we don't feel anything missing?

[Sam]

The easiest way to learn that lesson is to do business with a brand new corporal:D You will see the corrupting and addicting influence of power quicker than you can say police call.

Sam

[RealGun]

Is it true that some people would rather be ruled than the ruler? I can't see how so many people could be genetically pre-determined to submit, when history shows their relatives fought. So is it possible that we already have lost our power, and that's why we don't feel anything missing?

Perhaps it has more to do with where so many are on the spectrum of the hierarchy of needs. If preoccupied with food, water, and safe shelter, the general governing of things might be left to others. For so many on the low end of the hierachy, government handouts might be a rather popular idea and then a source of power. You have to be able to have "a nice day" before worried too much about the finer points of governing philosophies and economics. Then again, it's hard to have one without the other.

[peteinct]

Lucky, I think people are pack animals like dogs. So there may be some predisposition to being ruled rather than ruling themselves.The sheep/sheepdog thing may have biology behind it! Historically free peoples are not the norm peasants ruled by chiefs, priests or kings are. Non modern cultures are tribal with very small options for the single person.

At another level many people don't want the responsibility of ruling themselves. At my job the union workers will not take any responsibility for themselves. Even to get them to sign a checklist of completed actions is like pulling teeth. Unfortunately Management isn't much better with the endemic buck-passing.

Its easy to not make decisions. If anything happens you can blame someone else. You don't have to think or exert yourself. You don't stand out. Even for someone who tries to be responsible it can be very draining.
pete