Which corrupts more, power or powerlessness?

EDIT: Alright seeing large demand I guess I'll give some context.

Whether it may be corruption in the common era with career politicians or the corruption involved in overthrowing and betraying Julius Caesar, or even if you believe in it, the corruption of The Apple, corruption has created hardship for humanity for a long time. Now the question is posed: Which corrupts more, power or powerlessness?

In the sense of power corrupting, we have politicians and congress and such in the U.S that use their power to take full advantage of the nation and run it into the ground. Military dictatorships that have immense power ruin their countries and corrupt it to the extreme. Corruption can also be argued to be inherently found in power.

However, powerlessness can also corrupt. For example, Cassius sought to rally friends and allies such as Brutus to kill Julius Caesar and take over the Roman Republic. The powerlessness in Cassius drove him to overthrow the power and bring power to himself. Religiously speaking, in the parable of Adam and Eve, the Serpent convinced Eve into sinning and corrupted her due to their powerlessness and the power that the apple granted. It can also be argued on the opposite end that corruption occurs in powerlessness in an attempt to gain power.

I seek to ask for your opinions as to what you think corrupts MORE, power or powerlessness? Looking forward to interesting thoughts and arguments.

 

You should go into detail on what you want to discuss. This is much too vague and doesn't really fit here as is.

 

Not at all. It's sort of like saying the "Prove my existence within a state" is too vague. This is perfectly fine and fits perfectly in SFA and has tons of room for discussion.

 

"Only properly thought out, rational arguments are allowed in this forum" - Section rules

You don't provide an argument in your main post. This has potential for a good discussion if you allow it to be.

 

provide a context.

 

No, this is completely different. Also with that said, in the said thread, Sythe provide information as soon as the first person replies. There may be room for discussion on the topic, but as you've left it this may as well be Spam Forum. ~~ Read below.

 

Context and such provided. Looking forward to hearing what you all have to say.

 

I would have to say power corrupts more, as it is what corrupts the powerless in the beginning. I'll go more into it in a bit. Smoke break+taking care of animals. Will respond to things when I get back also.

 

"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

--John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton, first Baron Acton (1834–1902)

 

Great job spamming the forum with a quote.
http://www.sythe.org/something-all/...tion-read-before-posting-avoid-forum-ban.html

I'd appreciate it if you actually posted a rational argument or your thoughts, not something for some PC...

 

Do you not see how this quote directly voices my opinion on the matter? God forbid we try to maintain a little brevity.

If I really must spell it out for you, I'll put it like this:

Power and authority corrupt not only more readily than powerlessness, but on a much grander scale. Powerlessness may cause oppression, which may in turn cause an individual to act out in a certain way, but I posit that it is much easier to be corrupted by something you have in abundance than by something you yearn for.

 

One cannot be claimed to corrupt more than the other. As the process of corruption takes place inside a person, the extent of a corruption will have a strong dependence on the attitudes and character of the subject. Thus, nothing can be said in general about the difference between the two.

What can be said is that power gives more opportunity for a person to pursue his corruption, while powerlessness will normally produce unrealisable corruption - unless it makes the transformation to power.

 

power one hundred percent because most people dont know what to do with it once its obtained

 

Power will always corrupt at a higher magnitude, while the powerless will corrupt more in terms of volume.

The powerless have many ways to corrupt, but not with ease.

The powerful have fewer ways to corrupt, but can make the narrow path easier to venture through with the sources they have available.

Examples of the powerless being corrupt:

1. Manipulation of the system that would put businesses in trouble for the possibility of money.

2. Stealing

3. Abusing the system to avoid paying as much, or getting more than they should. (Government assistance related)

3. Creating radical groups to disrupt the social order of society.

4. Manipulating sexes for marriage consent without a prenup to collect debts later on.

5. The trafficking of illegal drugs.

The powerful have certain restrictions due to them being at the center of attention of the people around them. It creates an atmosphere of caution when being corrupt.

We all know which powers are corrupt.

Government & Business

Power is only as strong as the people supporting it.

 

Power definitely is one of the source of corrupt. I can't agree more to it. Without power, you are really not in a position to corrupt anyone.

At times, it might be different. For example bribing, that is one form of corruption. When you have the wealth(doesn't mean you have power), you can also cause corruption.

It differs from situation to situation.

 

Power, power always lead to corruption.

 

Saying without power you can't corrupt is the most absurd thing I've ever heard. What about the example I gave in my first post of civilians with no power betraying and overthrowing the Roman Republic. Every single civilian uprising is from a source of corruption. When you have no power you want to gain it and the fastest way is through means of corruption.

Elaborate or you are spam.

 

I want to preface this by saying this is my opinion and I don't think this is a broad statement about everyone. I think corruptness comes from powerlessness aided by power, meaning those who came from nothing like a poor home and background will seek as much power as they can. You see those kids who grew up with nothing and save every penny because they fear that past. peniaphobia (fear of poverty) can cause people to care too much about money.

George Washington was not the greatest general, but he shared his power. Whether or not it means anything, Washington was a wealthy man.

tl;dr summary
imo
power in general can corrupt.
powerless (aka poor) past + power = most likely to corrupt
(I think Hitler was poor but don't quote me)
rich + power = less likely to corrupt
(like George Washington)

Not sure if these are examples or anomalies but I'll leave that to a counter argument to point out.

 

Your post didn't really have much to answer the question of corruption. You spoke more of in a sense of power. If you can articulate your words in a sense of corruption I'll gladly enter an argument however your argument doesn't seem to hold water under this discussion.

You spoke of people seeking power and wanting to save money and such, but what does that have to do with corruption. Not all powerless seek power in a corrupt manner. If you believe that they seek power in a corrupt manner, prove it.

 

I was thinking corruption goes hand in hand with an insatiable search for money and stuff. Corrupt politicians, rulers, just want more money and power.