Topic: Does power really corrupt? - page 3. (Read 1069 times)

Everyone in power in the country I live in is corrupt, forcing those who are not corrupt to be. The ruling political figures of our country are so powerful that for more than a century people have suffered under a single rule. Their power is so corrupt that they are elected without opposition and come to power. Their rule is rampant corruption, lack of transparency and characterized by the persecution of dissent. The media is often censored and critical voices are silenced. The judiciary is also not independent and often works in the interests of the ruling party. Citizens have no courage to agitate and protest to demand change, accountability from their political leaders.

I love this; this statement is simple and mighty. Power always comes with energy that brings out the true selves of those who possess it.

This is for the many but not for all. There are people that even you give them power, they won't change and won't abuse but these guys are rare nowadays.

Most of these powers are in the politics and whoever are in the position will definitely enjoy the power or privilege that they'll get.

That's why politics suck and all of the people that are elected that don't deserve on it because they are just power hungry officials.s

Does power really corrupt?  The answer is No, power does not corrupt a person it only helps in showcasing and visuallng the real character of that person. Some may say as well say that "Money corrupts" but for me personally I don't believe that.
I believe every body has this corrupt behavior which they just require power to operate in. We should know corruption starts from the mind and one's the mind gets corrupt then everything he does lyes into corruption, some may tend to hide it for a while but definitely after getting what he/she wants then you see the real version of that person.

Another is power is a good thing and everyone wants power whereelse many things are involved before getting into power, who doesn't have the mind to compete for power by playing the cards well always end up loosing.

No matter how cool, godly, or respectful a human being can be, when power is given to him or her, it intoxicates them in a way you never can imagine. Take for instance a prefect position given to a college student. How he behaves with such a small position given to him to rule over others. You will see a bully and commanding spirit in him as young as he is.

It is no longer a new thing that power intoxicates almost everyone irrespective of age, beliefs, or background. Power has made people exercise and abuse it over others and in the same manner, have internal and external enemies for themselves as they tussle for power making them forget why they are called to serve the people not to fight or act badly over their subjects

Power corrupts people extreme power corrupts the extreme. Because of the close relationship between power and corruption we are usually desperate for power. One of the many motives for gaining power is corruption because of this close relationship between power and corruption has become our walking culture in our daily life when the employer cannot pay enough to meet the needs employees or officials can get involved in corruption basic needs are directly related to money.

The saying that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, is very correct, because the desire to control others is part of human nature. Everybody is humble until you put them in power or they rise to position of power, this is when that part of human nature that tends to control others will begin to manifest. And as absolute power is atained, the desire to control will become absolute, anybody that stands in the way becomes an enemy that should be crushed. It'll take great efforts and high discipline to do away with this natural desire to control.

One of the reasons why you'll agree that it's human nature to control others is where you have a powerful leader that controls his subjects, his subordinates will have the desire to usurp him and take over power to continue  the control of others. Even the critics of the regime, when given the opportunity to be in power might be worse off than their predecessor. So it takes exceptional integrity to be in power and not abuse it.

In every 100 power will corrupt 99. You will not know until you are given the power.

Yeah. If someone is already corrupted, there is no way that person will be a good person, whether in office or as a traditional ruler, because he has poisoned his mind with bad character and can’t be faithful to people around them.


Not everyone is corrupted from the beginning, but there are people who are corrupted due to the work they do there when someone comes to meet you and buys a job. What I mean is that when someone pays for a job that you give, and that is how they usually do it, you too if you go there. Toh may follow the train and do the same. However, money changes people. Some people have intentions of doing good to people, but when they get to some certain position in life, they change because of money. They don’t want to help the poor, which I can also call corrupt. If someone is not helping people, he rules till they pay money before he does something for them. Definitely, that person is corrupt, and most of this happens due to a change in environment.

Imagine having superpowers, for instance, I only wonder how I will feel and what I will be able to accomplish since power, whether it be in politics or even in an office, can be abused and result in a lot of enemies if it is not used carefully. Powerful people nowadays want to be revered simply because they are wealthy. you even need to see how people surround their self with them just because of favor. and I will end it with what you said that power is for God.

I do think that there are some geniune leaders in power but most to get overpowered by "power" and become corrupt. Sad but true...

If I can capture what you are saying here, you are asking if power truly corrupts the holder in-charge?
Well... Power can be bestowed in different aspects but all aimed at the goal of bringing expected impact's.

Power is the ability and the capacity of doing greats.
It could be as follows...
*Power of speech (authority)
*Power to lead (leadership)
*Physical power (muscular)
*Educational power (knowledge)
* Monetary power (money)
*Invention & technology (creativity).

Now power can be ordained or bestowed, either by appointment or by election or even by possessions.
It now depends on its perspective looking at to bring or posseses the abilities and capacities to build a solid wall or laying reliable and productive bricks either by exercised of  power oby authorities, power of leadership, muscular power, monetary power or by creativities to be ascertained for the benefits of an individual or others.

This has reminded me of a thread I previously created titled "Too much power in on man's hand". https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/m.62609003

So looking at it in an overview, I think you are pointing at power when it has to do with the others (public).

If I must sum up to this with experiences of things going on in the societies today where a man holds a multiple  portfolios or in position to ascertain a superintendent authority with the lack of capacities and abilities to exercise it's power with wisdom, POWER has been a bigotry, selfish interests and threats to the societies.

The above recent listed Powers has been a tussle (corruption) for the oppressors of oppressions across the existence of humans with it's negative effects in the societies where forces and supremacy is accorded by vulnerability depending on its failure to ascertain the  abilities and capacities to deal with others cordially according to a wellbeing

Power is something we humans need to be careful about because it has a way of changing an individual. Depending on the person in question because I know there are people when given the power to do something or as a leader they don't abuse it instead they use it to help those they're to serve. While in some cases when power is given to someone they use it for their selfish need, without the care of their subject. That's why I'll always say power only suit God almighty because he knows how to use it on like we humans, greed and selfishness won't let us make it to use.

Actually, power vested on an actor by virture of his higher position, does corrupt. The concept corrupt tenotes are an action verb that explains changing the rules of the game. Therefore whoever that is in the higher position of power has the tendency to circumvent the standard.

Who else but him,  (because he have to take all the risk).

The merging between male and female politicians is still very high and at that we can easily ascribed the causes pf that to lack of participation from the female politicians,  because sometime they can't take the risks that os involved in contesting and winning elections in most places,  and this also is evident in the political conduct in some places.

Political struggle in Africa most especially is too rough for women to get involved and even if they,  they get kicked behind by the male forsk who sees this thing as man's business,  but seriously,  it will really be nice if we can at least let a woman president in Africa and let us test the line of leadership.

People with physical power don't have it enough that it could corrupt them. They are still bound by same laws as the rest of us. And being best at some sport has nothing to do with corruption either, because you can't use that power to be dishonest or make a criminal offense by being good at soccer.

People who have power over others can be corrupted, and often are. That's why transparency and regulations are so important. I know that many crypto fanatics flinch when regulations are mentioned, but they are set for a good reason and one of them is to get rid of corruption.

Not power, but uncontrolled, unbalanced power is what is very likely to corrupt. Even those who reach leadership with honest intentions - and there are examples such as Gandhi, sometimes are driven by their self-righteousness, since they are people that had to test their stance very frequently along their paths, so they inevitably become too much self-confident.

By power they generally always means the power to affect other people's lives or make decisions which could affect other people lives. this mostly comes with the political powers because you would generally not care for the lives of people who might get affected with your decisions after some time. This is what people means you get corrupt with power.

Once there is this ability to control other peoples will there will be this unconscious act of corruption, Sometimes this corruption is not intentional but the fear of having your subject challenge your decisions create room for corruption and once the idea get nurtured it becomes a norm. It is very difficult tasting power without having this corrupt feelings, It only takes discipline to stay incorruptible and most time it can make such leaders isolated from the others.

In other words, a good man, if he gets power, just might become insensitive to the needs of the poor, weak people. This might happen because he forgets what it was like when he, himself, was weak and poor. It's not that he wants to be cruel. It's just that he doesn't realize that he is being cruel, because the things he does don't affect him that way any longer.

If he gets reminded about how it felt back then when he was weak, he would be more thoughtfully considerate.