Power and corruption

Originally posted by Bad wolf
In another thread Kelly and I were discussing, essentially, power and corruption.

My statement:
'Power corrupts.
Absolutely power corrupts absolutely.'

This a common aphorism, almost, the direct quote being:
'Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely' - John Dalberg-Acton

From http://tinyurl.com/yv4t9q :
'An observation on your statement so I can grasp what you are saying better? Then I shall do the same.

It applies to both people and God, but I was speaking about people.
I am not the first guy to say that, but I cannot give credit to the one
who did, because I don't recall his name.

Power will reveal what is there within a person as they act.
A corrupt person will take advantage, while a good person, will be just
what they are, a good person. A little example would be finding a
wallet with ID and money in it. What would a good person do, and what
would a corrupt person do? Put a each type of person in power, what
do we end up getting?
Kelly

Originally posted by TheSkipper
I'm not sure why you would assume that corrupt individuals are more prone to mistake than others. In fact, I think you might find that corrupt people are some of the most clever people, and least prone to mistake. Just look at a scam artist...

Are you calling 'a mistake' something where they get caught doing
something they were doing with their eyes WIDE open, and regret
what happens when others find out, or a 'mistake' something they
normally would not do but had a instant brainfart and trully do
regret it.
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
It applies to both people and God, but I was speaking about people.
I am not the first guy to say that, but I cannot give credit to the one
who did, because I don't recall his name.

Power will reveal what is there within a person as they act.
A corrupt person will take advantage, while a good person, will be just
what they are, a good person. A littl ...[text shortened]... uld a corrupt person do? Put a each type of person in power, what
do we end up getting?
Kelly

i might stuff the money in my pocket

Originally posted by EcstremeVenom
i might stuff the money in my pocket

What would you hope someone else would do if they found your
wallet with money and ID in it?
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
What would you hope someone else would do if they found your
wallet with money and ID in it?
Kelly

i dont have any money

Originally posted by EcstremeVenom
i dont have any money

🙂 some day I hope you do!
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
🙂 some day I hope you do!
Kelly

that is why i would have a huge dilemma in my mind on whether or not to take the money 😞

Originally posted by EcstremeVenom
that is why i would have a huge dilemma in my mind on whether or not to take the money 😞

That is the nature of action and power, would a good person because
they can justify taking the money, take it? We say little things like
‘finders keepers, losers weepers’ to justify ourselves, but in the end
we are attempting to justify our actions with reason, power will put
someone in the position to always being able to come up with some
means to justify what they want, ‘it was for the greater good’ or some
thing else like that. A person in power because of opportunity will
no doubt show their spots.
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
That is the nature of action and power, would a good person because
they can justify taking the money, take it? We say little things like
‘finders keepers, losers weepers’ to justify ourselves, but in the end
we are attempting to justify our actions with reason, power will put
someone in the position to always being able to come up with some
means to j ...[text shortened]... lse like that. A person in power because of opportunity will
no doubt show their spots.
Kelly

what if the person is rich?

Originally posted by EcstremeVenom
what if the person is rich?

Would it matter if they are rich or not? Do you think rich people do not
steal, because they don't have to, because thier 'needs are less' to
get along with?
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
Would it matter if they are rich or not? Do you think rich people do not
steal, because they don't have to, because thier 'needs are less' to
get along with?
Kelly

we are going in circles, you and i both know what is right and what is wrong so there is no point in discussing it.

Originally posted by EcstremeVenom
we are going in circles, you and i both know what is right and what is wrong so there is no point in discussing it.

But right and wrong was not the topic, it was corruption and power.
My point is we show ourselves for the people we are by the power
we aquire, where it was stated that power itself corrupts, which I
suggest is false. Given the chance what kind of person are you when
you can do what you will?
Kelly

Originally posted by KellyJay
It applies to both people and God, but I was speaking about people.
I am not the first guy to say that, but I cannot give credit to the one
who did, because I don't recall his name.

Power will reveal what is there within a person as they act.
A corrupt person will take advantage, while a good person, will be just
what they are, a good person. A littl ...[text shortened]... uld a corrupt person do? Put a each type of person in power, what
do we end up getting?
Kelly

Okay, I see now, thanks. 🙂

A much better quote than mine.

Originally posted by KellyJay
But right and wrong was not the topic, it was corruption and power.
My point is we show ourselves for the people we are by the power
we aquire, where it was stated that power itself corrupts, which I
suggest is false. Given the chance what kind of person are you when
you can do what you will?
Kelly

But right and wrong was not the topic, it was corruption and power.

Interesting distinction!

An early Hasidic Rebbe distinguished between three kinds of people: to use your example, one who decides to keep the money, one who without question decides to find the rightful owner—and one who struggles with himself before making the decision to find the rightful owner. The Rebbe actually assigned the higher moral status to the third person, not the second—because he had to struggle to overcome the “voice of corruption” inside himself.

Originally posted by vistesd
[b]But right and wrong was not the topic, it was corruption and power.

Interesting distinction!

An early Hasidic Rebbe distinguished between three kinds of people: to use your example, one who decides to keep the money, one who without question decides to find the rightful owner—and one who struggles with himself before making the decision to find ...[text shortened]... not the second—because he had to struggle to overcome the “voice of corruption” inside himself.[/b]

Repenting isn't always easy, and neither is making the right choice
when you know what it is.
Kelly