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.
The thing is, we could pay the bribes, use connections (if someone knew some bureaucrat), or cue and hope some day down the line the bureaucrats would actually do their jobs. However, there was another way, one which most people didn't know existed. See, in all of these corrupt apparatuses, the corrupt bureaucrats are mostly lazy sociopaths. Paper needs moving though, therefore, there are always a number of workaholic, everyday people who do the jobs of those corrupt bureaucrats. If you reach them, those working people would almost always help you and without any bribe whatsoever. Those unseen, forgotten people are the only reason why corrupt bureaucratic apparatuses can function to a degree.
Sometimes you can use the corrupt system against itself, by initiating a inquiry for complete directorate check up. This, however, has to be timed during a change of the administrations, so some other corrupt bureaucrat can actually do what they are supposed to do and "uncover" corruption in that department. Of course, that they would do only for scoring brownie points before the regime/party etc.
The added bonus was that after the regime fell, most of the corrupt were fed to the trees and forest critters. Romania did a much better job though, and I applaud them for it. They hanged all of the Securitate (their KGB style secret police) and cleaned 99% of the sociopaths from their country.
You make a powerful (see what I did there?) point about what it is to be a neurotypical human. The question is what drives people to seek and retain power no matter the circumstances?
I see two things .
First, fear. Fear that someone else will laud it over us and control what we have. In others words protect yourself before others beat you down.
Second, greed. A desire for more than our fair share.
One triggers anxiety and stress hormones the other dopamine. Either can become addictive and drive the desire for more and bigger hits.
From this, develops ‘Hubris Syndrome “. Check it out, it’s real condition. Based on genetic predisposition and environmental circumstances we can believe our destiny to weild power. Just look around at our world today.
The question remains why do we allow some people to gain more power than they are due?
Partly, lethargy, partly a need for a “strong” lesder to look afters us (when did they ever?), and partly because of the societal systems that select for their rise.
I find myself nodding along, but also squirming a bit lol
We're all susceptible to this on some level, and that's what makes it so relatable and, frankly, a little uncomfortable. The suggestion about seeking reluctant leaders is interesting. I've often found people who get thrown into leadership positions without actually wanting it in the first place perform well.
I think what you're saying is mostly true. It's hard to find any powerful leader, even down through the ages, that hasn't been capable of using his power for more than the most virtuous purposes. Where it starts to get shady though, is that the power that is held, the more it is recognized by the people. And the problem with people, as they do with God, is to idolize flawed humans with power as if they were a god.
In doing so, there's no longer grace for decisions made by someone with power. We see a ruler and dissect them, looking for error, or if we agree with them, try to not see that it exists. We as people start deciding in a black and white manner, what is good and what is evil, ABSOLUTELY.
As a commoner, we tend to see ourselves morally good when we MOSTLY do good...when we make far less influential decisions compared to those in power.
Ultimately, I would say that power does corrupt more often than not. However, I do think power given to a select few isn't as much corrupting the human itself, as it is corrupting the compassion of those who look up to them or despise them. We start to judge them ABSOLUTELY, rather than give them grace as the humans they are.
Ghandi had great power. As did MLK Junior, Marcus Aurelius, Alexander the Great, and Abraham Lincoln. But all of them also did questionable things, so I get your point. I just think that power doesn't necessarily mean evil or absolutly corrupt.
Excellent response. And yes, as I said, there are greater or lesser corruptions that occur, and the best you can do is start with someone who has the right personality to resist that corruption the most.
I do not say anyone is absolutely corrupt (they like their little boy or puppy, don't they?), just that power is a corrupting influence. It affects us all. It's how we resist that makes the difference between open corruption and just enjoying First Class travel a lot.
And MLK and Lincoln had their bad days too, they were just human, as you note. It's dangerous to look a the world as a black and white place.
Yes! Here we agree, especially in that last sentence. And that, IMO, is the greatness of philosophical thinking…find the wisdom in the nuance and complexity of human existence.
Thank you for the rebuttal. I can be bluntly critical sometimes.
Oh damn, one of the reasons I love fantasy is to escape reality, but I'm invested enough now to follow what happens to the characters now, good or bad 😿
JS, I know you enough to know you will be quite pleased with how it turns out in the end, but not what happens to them in the meantime. It will not be easy, but they are principled characters, some of whom will have some very bad days.
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.
I would be very interested.
The thing is, we could pay the bribes, use connections (if someone knew some bureaucrat), or cue and hope some day down the line the bureaucrats would actually do their jobs. However, there was another way, one which most people didn't know existed. See, in all of these corrupt apparatuses, the corrupt bureaucrats are mostly lazy sociopaths. Paper needs moving though, therefore, there are always a number of workaholic, everyday people who do the jobs of those corrupt bureaucrats. If you reach them, those working people would almost always help you and without any bribe whatsoever. Those unseen, forgotten people are the only reason why corrupt bureaucratic apparatuses can function to a degree.
Sometimes you can use the corrupt system against itself, by initiating a inquiry for complete directorate check up. This, however, has to be timed during a change of the administrations, so some other corrupt bureaucrat can actually do what they are supposed to do and "uncover" corruption in that department. Of course, that they would do only for scoring brownie points before the regime/party etc.
Ah, using power against itself. I like it.
The added bonus was that after the regime fell, most of the corrupt were fed to the trees and forest critters. Romania did a much better job though, and I applaud them for it. They hanged all of the Securitate (their KGB style secret police) and cleaned 99% of the sociopaths from their country.
“Power cannot corrupt those who eschew it.”
You make a powerful (see what I did there?) point about what it is to be a neurotypical human. The question is what drives people to seek and retain power no matter the circumstances?
I see two things .
First, fear. Fear that someone else will laud it over us and control what we have. In others words protect yourself before others beat you down.
Second, greed. A desire for more than our fair share.
One triggers anxiety and stress hormones the other dopamine. Either can become addictive and drive the desire for more and bigger hits.
From this, develops ‘Hubris Syndrome “. Check it out, it’s real condition. Based on genetic predisposition and environmental circumstances we can believe our destiny to weild power. Just look around at our world today.
The question remains why do we allow some people to gain more power than they are due?
Partly, lethargy, partly a need for a “strong” lesder to look afters us (when did they ever?), and partly because of the societal systems that select for their rise.
Thank you Nick.
I find myself nodding along, but also squirming a bit lol
We're all susceptible to this on some level, and that's what makes it so relatable and, frankly, a little uncomfortable. The suggestion about seeking reluctant leaders is interesting. I've often found people who get thrown into leadership positions without actually wanting it in the first place perform well.
I think what you're saying is mostly true. It's hard to find any powerful leader, even down through the ages, that hasn't been capable of using his power for more than the most virtuous purposes. Where it starts to get shady though, is that the power that is held, the more it is recognized by the people. And the problem with people, as they do with God, is to idolize flawed humans with power as if they were a god.
In doing so, there's no longer grace for decisions made by someone with power. We see a ruler and dissect them, looking for error, or if we agree with them, try to not see that it exists. We as people start deciding in a black and white manner, what is good and what is evil, ABSOLUTELY.
As a commoner, we tend to see ourselves morally good when we MOSTLY do good...when we make far less influential decisions compared to those in power.
Ultimately, I would say that power does corrupt more often than not. However, I do think power given to a select few isn't as much corrupting the human itself, as it is corrupting the compassion of those who look up to them or despise them. We start to judge them ABSOLUTELY, rather than give them grace as the humans they are.
Ghandi had great power. As did MLK Junior, Marcus Aurelius, Alexander the Great, and Abraham Lincoln. But all of them also did questionable things, so I get your point. I just think that power doesn't necessarily mean evil or absolutly corrupt.
Good piece, sir.
Excellent response. And yes, as I said, there are greater or lesser corruptions that occur, and the best you can do is start with someone who has the right personality to resist that corruption the most.
I do not say anyone is absolutely corrupt (they like their little boy or puppy, don't they?), just that power is a corrupting influence. It affects us all. It's how we resist that makes the difference between open corruption and just enjoying First Class travel a lot.
And MLK and Lincoln had their bad days too, they were just human, as you note. It's dangerous to look a the world as a black and white place.
Yes! Here we agree, especially in that last sentence. And that, IMO, is the greatness of philosophical thinking…find the wisdom in the nuance and complexity of human existence.
Thank you for the rebuttal. I can be bluntly critical sometimes.
Oh damn, one of the reasons I love fantasy is to escape reality, but I'm invested enough now to follow what happens to the characters now, good or bad 😿
JS, I know you enough to know you will be quite pleased with how it turns out in the end, but not what happens to them in the meantime. It will not be easy, but they are principled characters, some of whom will have some very bad days.
Anyone reading this and wondering what we are talking about: https://tranithargan.substack.com
Pleased to hear it, this is going to be an interesting journey 🐱
I am always glad for people to speak up. I sure don’t have all the answers!