True or False (and why or why not):

[SteppingRazor]

1. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

2. Corrupt people will do whatever they can to hold onto power.

3. Given 1 and 2, it is the tendency of all democracies to move invariably toward dictatorship. Only the speed at which they do so varies.

[Annces]

1. Power to do what

The power to create does not corrupt. First you need to think and act like God, then you have to give away your ego piece by piece to be a saint (or so a poem says, that I can't find).

Power to take away from others or power to have forceful control over others, is a power that some people seek in the first place. Money can buy you a lot in this world.

[hootinholler]

2. FALSE

Power does not corrupt, it simply attracts the corruptable.

-Hoot

[DCKit]

3. Term limits and an educated electorate wouldn't hurt. nt

[Hosnon]

4. 3 does not necessarily follow.

In a "proper" system of government, offices that convey power are set against each other, e.g., checks and balances. In our system, three "units" constantly push for more power. However, it is very close to a zero sum game. As one branch gains power, another loses it.

[SteppingRazor]

5. Then over time...

wouldn't any democracy eventually find itself ruled by one, corrupted branch that had succeeded in overpowering the others?

I've been wrapping my head around this for a while, that, given human nature, a constant cycle of freedom and tyranny may be inevitable. History certainly seems to reinforce that notion. The Roman Republic/Empire is a great example, of course. But there are many others. The French monarchy/Republic/Empire, for example.

[Hosnon]

6. It's a possibility for sure - but not necessarily inherent in the concept of government.

The system needs to be designed in such a way that it takes into account basic human nature and uses it to discourage tyranny.

A constant tendency towards a cycle may exist but I think that humans learn from that cycle and modify accordingly, thus restricting the range of the swings.

[bryant69]

7. Incomplete

First of all the theory of Democracy is that you spread power around to as many people as possible - as opposed to concentrating it. And also it doesn't take into account those of us who are willing to resist attempts to concentrate power.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[applegrove]

8. Why there are term limits in many countries.