Reading a few posts on this topic about the abuse of power, it's fair to say that many must have held the notion that the abuse of power occurs in high and esteemed positions. Those positions are well recognised for their influence and the level of power they command. Certainly, political power comes to mind first. It's one of the highest powers a person can hold, and the aspect which we've seen gross misconduct and abuse of power.
However, when we look at our societies and consider this abuse of power, we must have realised that it's not just in those positions we think. This happens among the same citizens complaining about the ones in power abusing the power they have. That's true, because power resides at different levels of society and it's shared among different calibre of individuals, depending on the kind of power. And so, abuse is common in all these cases.
I guess it's because of what we see mostly highlighted and talked about that could make one not really consider that the abuse of power is something that happens with any kind or level of power possessed. So instead of serving the people one is meant to, they get possessed by the power they were supposed to possess and end up becoming power-drunk, doing things they shouldn't do. It's a very annoying situation to come across.
Being power-drunk is one of the most annoying and exhausting things. Sadly, it's a reality, more than it might be thought of. It happens in schools, communities, organisations, workplaces, religious settings, and other facets of life, where power is involved. We must have seen instances that left us thinking where are we going as a people? If we aren't different from those in high positions when it comes to dealing with power, what does that tell?
You might agree with me that it's more of an annoying concern when you see power being abused from small positions you didn't expect. Maybe because for someone in that position, it's expected that you know better how the abuse of power feels and affects people. It's said that power intoxicates. I guess that's true, and it explains why a person so relatable and simple can become something else in the face of power.
I remember some of the instances that prove this point and the issue of the abuse of power coming not from political or big positions; like with some class representatives in schools, community leaders, leaders of groups, heads of departments in institutions or organisations, and more. People abuse their power in different ways; financial requests and demands, favouritism towards others, extreme and abusive work conditions, and so on.
There's a need then to hold people accountable for the power they hold and how they wield it, especially when we see abuse. Otherwise, it becomes a normal thing and leads to continuous pain and oppression of anyone and everyone under such abuse of power. This should be checked right from the low positions of power upward, because that's how it grows. But how do we do that when those who should enforce a stop are mostly of the same camp?
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Some people get the smallest bit of power and suddenly forget how to treat others. I've seen this happen too and it's honestly annoying.
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It's a sad reality.
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Exactly. The loudest abusers tend not to be the ones in political office. They are the class rep demanding “contributions” nobody agreed to, the community leader doling out jobs to their cousins, the department head playing favorites. Power intoxicates at all levels. The difference is that when a class rep abuses power, you can vote him/her out. When a politician does it, you wait for four years. That’s why accountability starts at the bottom, because if we normalize the small abuses, we’re training ourselves to accept the big ones. This is something we see everyplace, be it our schools or our workplaces. The real question is why we let it happen.
Very important and valid points made. I like how you expounded on how some of the mentioned positions of power are abused by those in those positions. Yes, accountability is necessary and should start from the bottom up. Because we can deal with these more easily and quickly, unlike the political positions of power, which should nonetheless be held to account and corrected.
An important question. We didn't see any big deal about it, and now it's a cancer we're hardly finding a cure for. But then, we should now do what's right and necessary to stop it.
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