Principle 6: Power Corrupts
Even you and me
This is one of those principles we all learn as children and accept, but not really accept. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely we hear and nod solemnly as children — but we secretly don’t believe it.
Oh, those other folks would get corrupted, but I’d be a benign ruler.
No, you wouldn’t.
The reason this principle is so simple (power corrupts) is because it is so universally true. You see it at all stages of life.
A five-year-old girl is told to cut the cake and give her 4-year-old sibling a piece. The five-year-old just gained some power and you can see it on her face. She immediately starts thinking how to use this power to some advantage.
A 20-year-old prison guard lords it over the prisoners in ways that make them hate him.
A 30-year-old gets promoted to manager and starts making rules that appeal to him, not necessarily what is idea for the group.
A 40-year-old gets elected to Parliament and — well, I don’t have to tell you about that corruption, we see it every day on television
Are all politicians corrupt? Yes.
What?! Even my nice councilwoman? Yes.
Oh sure, there are degrees of corruption. Some folks go whole hog corrupt, others remain idealistic and do the right thing, but oh it is nice being interviewed, and flying nicer airline classes and eating better food, and so on.
The reason power corrupts is because we like having that power and we start to think about maintaining that power no matter what.
You think a television anchor who makes hundreds of thousands a year and is asked to speak at many events, you think they want to give up that gig? Of course not. So they do whatever they have to not to upset their situation. If that means softening the corruption they report on, well, everyone else is doing it…
One of the problems I dealt with in writing Tranith Argan is realizing that when my character gains power, he is going to be corrupted. I didn’t want to do that, but I had to. So in later books, my main character is going to talk through the process of corruption that he will acknowledge is inherent in the attaining of great power.
Because in the end, if power corrupts, the best you can do is find an idealistic and kind-hearted individual to elect, accept that the very act of election will introduce some level of corruption, and know that at least you started with the person who is reluctant to accept power, will remain decent longer than most, rather than give power to the greedy types who yearn for power over others.
Power corrupts, but some start out more corrupt than others to begin with.
I loved your article :D As someone who had to survive the insane corruption of a communist bureaucracy, I can share a few strangely intriguing facts with you if you like.
“Power cannot corrupt those who eschew it.”