Opinions,feedbacks,quotes about political power

[morpheous]

starting this thread on political power.future politicians, please take heed...

1st rule:when in power,always use power to consolidate your position and increase your power base.
slowly and definitely over time use power to remove and replace your colleagues who help you to gain power with your own loyal supporters.

2nd rule:power without control is useless.to have control, you need loyalty. hence you need loyal supporters/cronys?so how to secure a person's loyalty?money?favors?high positions?business contract?woman?

any comments,feedbacks,interesting quotes you know of on "political power"??pls chip in..

[__earth]

a question, where did you dig up that rule?

[littlebigone]

Watch out for the crony that is too smart. You want people to remain dependent on you and your leadership.

[aquila]

Wow littlebigone! What you said seems like it has been taken from the textbook committed to memory by Suharto, Dr M, Mugabe, and countless others.

I prefer to think of working as a group as the best way to build on power. Feeling threatened and eliminating people just tells how terrible inferior you feel and power crazy you are.

[ElansarGelmir]

My rule for politicians or leaders: If your motive serves the people, then fight for your power. Else, let others with noble visions rule. :wink:

[qedx]

if you actually want to lead, the you're not qualified to be a leader in my book. hence i dont vote in elections :/

[morpheous]

a question, where did you dig up that rule?

1st rule:when in power,always use power to consolidate your position and increase your power base.

2nd rule:power without control is useless.to have control, you need loyalty.

_earth, i can't really recall..probably i read them from numerous history books that i devoured..or i heard them from friends/colleagues discussing office politics,government politics.etc...or i just sit down,ponder over it and form these rules myself after much reading,observations,listening, etc....just like newton formed law of motions after seeing the apple fell down from the tree...

or read them from other webforums...

[__earth]

its probably a satire rather than a rule, unless you are being sarcastic and I am being slow.

and could please not bold your entire msg? :D

[topdog]

why is it a satire? politics is politics. man can refine it (as in democracy) but in the end it still boils down to power consolidation.

[morpheous]

well..we can call them premises if this sounds proper. a premise remain a premise until majority of recomers on this thread agree with it,then it become a rule.how's that??
another source..
Power never takes a back step - only in the face of more power.
does the above saying strengthen premise#1?
how about nepotism?The meaning of nepotism is favoritism (as in appointment to a job) based on kinship
does this strengthen premise#2?who can be more loyal and obedient than your own flesh and blood..?

[qedx]

who can be more loyal and obedient than your own flesh and blood..?
mind-controlled zombies

[ElansarGelmir]

who can be more loyal and obedient than your own flesh and blood..?
mind-controlled zombies

Oh... And why do we have old folks homes mushrooming these days?

[misled_youth]

Every citizen has power, it's just that they never realised it.

Instead, we transfer power to this one individual who is supposed to represent us at a state/national level.

Let me explain why it can't work.

If A, B and C were to stand for election in a particular constituency, and the break down of the results is as follows:

A - 33.33%
B - 33.33%
C - 33.34%

Therefore, C would become the elected representative of the minority in that particular constituency. What is that all about?

If every rakyat were able to be responsible for their own action and realise they don't need a leader to tell them what to wear, how to think, what is right/wrong, we won't need "democracy".

Remember that movie, "A Bug's Life"? To me, that's one of the simplest form of portraying people power!

Use your votes wisely people. It's power on your hands!
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[morpheous]

yeah another factor to secure loyalty...
2nd rule:power without control is useless.to have control, you need loyalty.

use education scholarship and sponsorship...

[__earth]

Every citizen has power, it's just that they never realised it.

Instead, we transfer power to this one individual who is supposed to represent us at a state/national level.

Let me explain why it can't work.

If A, B and C were to stand for election in a particular constituency, and the break down of the results is as follows:

A - 33.33%
B - 33.33%
C - 33.34%

Therefore, C would become the elected representative of the minority in that particular constituency. What is that all about?


this actually is the reason when some ppl are against first past the pole principle.

but there are ways to go around your scenario. representative democracy still works.

If every rakyat were able to be responsible for their own action and realise they don't need a leader to tell them what to wear, how to think, what is right/wrong, we won't need "democracy".

we still need democracy even if everybody were to be free. there are things that need to be decided collectively.

[Randomphantom]

About control in a democracy, we actually do not realise that - where does the control of power lies exactly?
In an ideal situation the rakyat has the vote and theoretically possesses full control. In fact, those raised to government spend more resources consolidating their power, doing superficial things to appease the public and swing votes to their favour, instead of truly working to serve the people. Not to mention propoganda and mind domination of the masses.

Talking about 'Bug's Life', 'Antz' (very thought provoking for its themes compared to disney fare) could be the most 'political' cartoon movie ever. Besides demonstrating people power it also brings ups a contrasting point: the gullibility of the masses by simple propaganda.

oops, going a bit off topic

about 1st rule: I would add 'legitimately, without abusing that power you wield'.
Powerplay like that in a chess game: always rethinking your position, anticipating the next moves of your opponent, while having a clear picture of the whole situation.

about 2nd rule: Power and control come in the same boat IMHO. How do you gain the people's respect/loyalty? Many ways: Pander to their whims, Imposing force on them, bait them (money, woman, more money, status, etc).
But for those staying firm and true to a cause for the people's sake, I salute you. They will win, and they win simply by winning the respect of others.

[morpheous]

I would add 'legitimately, without abusing that power you wield'.
randomphantom, legitimately can be used only to act as smokescreen to deceive the general public. remember the movie "Clear and Present Danger" starring Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan. The president made it seems that he can deny ordering covert operations. but his right hand man did all the dirty jobs for him. making secret deals with the drug cartel.let the hero ryan take the blame and be the scapegoat.
you may see a politician has a clean record on the outside. but u don't know inside, his cronies are doing the dirty jobs of making him more powerful or consolidating his power base (legitimately or not..)

Power and control come in the same boat
not necessary. in western democracy, you don't see the executive branch controlling the senate commitee.president bush has to ask congress for funding in iraq's war and a senator replied "congress is not an ATM".
only in malaysia, you see the parliament and judiciary under "BN controls".

[topdog]

only in malaysia, you see the parliament and judiciary under "BN controls".
not forgetting law enforcement agencies...

[Randomphantom]

I think I may have confused power and control. But mainly, power is often conferred a degree of control, whether is it judiciary, parliamentary, executive, etc.

I truly believe that many political manuevres we do not know of are made behind the smokescreen of legitimacy . As it is futile to expose the true insidious acts for what they are, we would have to stick to the face value of legimacy, whilst realising that not all is what it seems. (conspiracy theory anyone?)

Realise that your opponents would be doing the same things: acting clean on the outside while dirty dealing everywhere. Use 'good' ways to triumph by all means. If you prefer playing dirty, its up to you. Most importantly, do it legitimately, undercover but never openly. Playing your cards with an open hand would be indeed foolish.