Another element described by Roger Morris in his book, Partners in Power, is the preferred candidate. He says leaders, e.g., governors, police chiefs, CEOs whatever, are preferred to be weak, with relaxed rectitude. They are easier to manipulate. Especially if they are unaware of their human tendencies to abuse power. Do both paradigms apply to the current White House?
[From article]
Plato considered that the measure of a man is what he does with power; Charles Caleb Colton noted that “power will intoxicate the best hearts, as wine the strongest heads.”
An in a letter to Mandell Creighton (5 April 1887), John Acton famously wrote:
“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely./…/There’s no worse heresy than that the office sanctifies the holder of it.”
[. . .]
If modern scientists often compare the sensation of omnipotence to effects caused by drugs, it’s because power, amphetamines and cocaine do have similar effect on human brain: they increase the levels of dopamine…and are equally addictive.
Dopamine leads to euphoria through higher levels of energy, self-confidence and alertness, but its build-up is linked to anxiety, psychosis and pervasive distrust and suspiciousness.
[. . .]
Delusions of grandeur turn relationships into transactions, and fellow human beings become viewed as a faceless crowd of disposable pawns.
Power junkies will inhale ovations, sniff flattery and shoot themselves up with compliments in order to maintain the illusion of the timelessness and limitlessness of their reign.
[. . .]
Serving the interests of their own citizens has become so unthinkable and out of the question that importing voters seems somehow a simpler solution.
[. . .]
While affected by pre-election fever, demagogues reaching for power act like busy bees. But once authority cravings satiated, they transform into lazy drones basking in the same treacherous sun of hubris which cost Icarus his wings.
[. . .]
The mainstream media lullaby aimed to sedate the commoners lulls also politicians into “eternal power” state of mind. Journalistic stenographers have no problem writing about “Oppositional Defiance Disorder,” apparently detected in unruly citizens or “dysfunctional” homeless Veterans who lost their limbs for our freedom. Quite ironically, journalists turned compliance professionals, and advisers turned sycophants follow politicians’ own rule: taking care of own business only; they will never risk their 30 pieces of silver
[. . .]
As envisioned by Thomas Paine: “The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/01/power_and_its_side_effects_.html
January 9, 2016
Power and its Side Effects
By Joanna Rosamond
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