Comments on: Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely http://www.mikecritelli.com/2009/08/10/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely/ Mike Critelli's Blog Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:39:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Critelli http://www.mikecritelli.com/2009/08/10/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely/comment-page-1/#comment-3984 Mike Critelli Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:39:59 +0000 http://www.mikecritelli.com/?p=344#comment-3984 I have thought about this concept of power corrupting people in many contexts. I believe that people who have power get comfortable with it, and want more of it. Over time, they lose sensitivity and empathy with those who do not have it. They get used to the perquisites that come with power, including the deference they get from others. Ultimately, what this means to me is that there should be term limits on elective and appointive offices of all kinds, including leadership positions in unions and trade associations. There also should be checks and balances on centralized decision making. If there are abuses of power, there needs to be remedial capabilities that are relatively easy to put into place. However, remedial leadership can also be subject to the corruption of power, so it should be temporary. Unfortunately, all too many human beings want to tell others what to do, and have control over them. That is something we must never allow to be permanent or long term. I have thought about this concept of power corrupting people in many contexts. I believe that people who have power get comfortable with it, and want more of it. Over time, they lose sensitivity and empathy with those who do not have it. They get used to the perquisites that come with power, including the deference they get from others. Ultimately, what this means to me is that there should be term limits on elective and appointive offices of all kinds, including leadership positions in unions and trade associations. There also should be checks and balances on centralized decision making. If there are abuses of power, there needs to be remedial capabilities that are relatively easy to put into place. However, remedial leadership can also be subject to the corruption of power, so it should be temporary. Unfortunately, all too many human beings want to tell others what to do, and have control over them. That is something we must never allow to be permanent or long term.

]]> By: Dredd http://www.mikecritelli.com/2009/08/10/absolute-power-corrupts-absolutely/comment-page-1/#comment-3983 Dredd Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:32:56 +0000 http://www.mikecritelli.com/?p=344#comment-3983 Power is a concept of physics, without corruption. Yet it is also a mystical concept of our founders which has to do with social power, and it has corrupting properties. Both <a href="http://powertoxins.blogspot.com/2009/10/tables-for-toxins-in-power.html" rel="nofollow">can be demonstrated mathematically</a> with reasonable precision. Power is a concept of physics, without corruption. Yet it is also a mystical concept of our founders which has to do with social power, and it has corrupting properties.

Both can be demonstrated mathematically with reasonable precision.

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