Power (SumBlog10)

In class this week we discussed the difference between power and authority.  We learned that power is domination over another group or individual while authority is legitimate domination over others.  In other words, domination is authorized and respected power. 

While trying to find a video that related to what we talked about in class yesterday I came across the one that I have posted a link to below.  I thought that the video was thought provoking in that it suggests that we are in control of whom and what has power over our lives.  I also thought it was implying that we become too content with the way things are, to the point that we never question our reality.  At the end of the video it advocates that we stop just “letting go” of the power that is ours to give, but rather that we truly think about situations and be more prudent in who we give power and authority to.

video to consider

In the United States power has been harder and harder to come by in recent decades.  Generally, only those with money or the ability to intimidate (or both) find themselves in positions of power in our society.  However, even more upsetting is the fact that these people also seem to hold a vast majority of the authority positions.

Running for office (president, senate, house, or governor) is an expensive and timely thing to do, and therefore it has become nearly impossible for people from the middle class to hold these positions of authority.  My opinion is that this phenomenon has led to many of the problems that our society now faces.  People with the highest forms of authority and power cannot do what is best for America when they cannot relate to the vast majority of Americans.  Even worse, anyone with enough power in the form of money can often lobby to get our leaders to vote in favor of their lobbying efforts rather than for the common good.

In the end, I believe that the concept of power and authority is incredibly skewed in our society.  I agree with this video that people have to start reconsidering the things they simply accept as the status quo, especially when a nation’s wellbeing is at stake.