Is There No Antidote for Our Perpetual Push for Power?
Some say there is
Trump wants power, of course. So do each of the Republican candidates for president. Just like the Democrat candidates—every candidate wants power and pledges to do right by those who grant them power. We are no different from those candidates: We all want power. We want colleagues to listen to us, spouses to bend to our will, children to follow our directives.
We want what we want. Especially because what we want is good and pure and right, holy and God-ordained.
di Rosa Art Museum
One ancient writer thought there might be a different way. Old (dead) Dr. Luke quoted Jesus as saying you are better off finding a way to help the helpless then you are arguing over who is most powerful. Helping those who have no way to pay you back opens doors to a different sort of life that has very little to do with amassing power.
In fact—all that energy you spent manipulating and maneuvering into power—it’s not likely to lead you to the kind of solid ground that matters most.
What would our presidential politics look like if candidates thought about serving rather than voicing shameful prejudices that pry power from blocks of fearful voters? Likely that would not be covered by the media, because there is no story in that.
The institutions and organizations that own the candidates would not like that.
But humans might actually flourish in those conditions.
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Image credit: Kirk Livingston
conversation is an engine 
“. . . What would our presidential politics look like if candidates thought about serving rather than voicing shameful prejudices that pry power from blocks of fearful voters?. . . ”
….probably a lot like Jimmy Carter
weisserwatercolours
August 26, 2015 at 11:35 am
Lance: you nailed it. That was exactly who came to mind when I wrote those words. Thanks!
kirkistan
August 26, 2015 at 11:48 am
…that man the template for service in and out of public office. thank you for being an encourager of that.
weisserwatercolours
August 26, 2015 at 3:36 pm
Thanks, Lance. Mr. Carter’s recent talk about his own cancer was a model of grace and gratitude. He’s the ultimate groovy dude.
kirkistan
August 26, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Wow, so true about Carter. He was too good for the office, IMO. It tends to ruin people. Bernie is the only one who’s impressed me so far this cycle. 💛
Laura (Createarteveryday)
August 27, 2015 at 6:56 am
Me, too. I want to hear more from Mr. Sanders.
kirkistan
August 27, 2015 at 6:59 am
Also – a wonderful, wonderful book about the presidency is “The Presidents Club” by Gibbs and Duffy. I guarantee you’ll love it. http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,2111338,00.html
Laura (Createarteveryday)
August 27, 2015 at 6:58 am
Funny how Carter gets so much bad press…but I’ve always admired him for the way he has lived his life. Glad to see I’m not the only one.
As for Trump, as a friend said: he doesn’t want to be President, he wants to be King.
And that’s a great sculpture. (K.)
memadtwo
August 27, 2015 at 7:58 am
Good points all. True about Trump.
kirkistan
August 27, 2015 at 8:02 am