tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396682199178122530.post7229567774686293104..comments2023-12-28T22:22:42.307-08:00Comments on Nobody In Particular: The Interests of PowerAaronhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128359303310478673noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396682199178122530.post-9511799660485325132010-09-21T18:13:08.043-07:002010-09-21T18:13:08.043-07:00Hmmm... I'm still noodling on that.Hmmm... I'm still noodling on that.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128359303310478673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396682199178122530.post-17558982084194076312010-09-21T14:10:43.226-07:002010-09-21T14:10:43.226-07:00It holds to the extent that the powerful identify ...It holds to the extent that the powerful identify themselves with society as a whole.<br /><br /><i>Relative</i> power seems to be a big motivator. People are interested to conserve rewards on themselves and have other people do the work or suffer the consequences of hard or bad decisions. I'd argue that global quality of life has progressed over the extreme long-term, but in a short lifetime, people would rather not share the wealth and adopt the sacrifice themselves. A casual view of history suggests that power is perfectly happy with preserving slavery, pollution, war, profiteering, colonialism, genocide, sweatshops, serfdom, indenture, inequality, you name it. Especially if it keeps them in the lifestyle to which they're accustomed. <br /><br />Even for the pure-hearted decision-maker there's a huge temptation to rationalize that the things that have made them powerful are good for everyone. Since the powerful like to claim, or even believe, that their success is good for everyone, it's probably better to address their body of ideas than to just call them all evil.Keifushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00287358319899471490noreply@blogger.com