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Great article on power, and how and why it corrupts...

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posted on Feb, 1 2010 @ 05:20 PM
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I thought this was a really cool article, and figured it would be good ATS discussion.

More proof that it doesn't matter who's in power, they will likely be corrupt because they are so out of touch with common people. It seems that even people with good intentions can end up being morally corrupt. according to the article though Obama is attempting to counteract this phenomenon. Is Obama really in touch with main street?


And it also justifies Obama insistence on not becoming informationally isolated, whether that's by reading ten letters from constituents every day or following a variety of blogs.



The article also explains why such a high percentage of rich people suck jerks..


Once we become socially isolated, we stop simulating the feelings of other people.* As a result, our inner Machiavelli takes over, and our sense of sympathy is squashed by selfishness.



Of course, we live in an age when our most powerful people - they tend to also have lots of money - are also the most isolated. They live in gated communities with private drivers. They eat at different restaurants and stay at different resorts. They wear different clothes and skip the security lines at airports, before sitting at the front of the plane. We shouldn't be surprised that they're also assholes.



So i guess power does corrupt, but who cares it's probably worth it....



here's the article..
scienceblogs.com...


[edit on 2-2-2010 by liquidsmoke206]



posted on Feb, 6 2010 @ 06:20 PM
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That makes so much sense. You are spot on to bring this to ATS. IF rich people had to talk to poor people everyday, if they had to have an actual conversation with those people... They would be very sympathetic. The donations and lip service to charity are an entirely different matter. Those are tax write offs that usually help their business in some way. Like when Bill Gates spent all that on Africa, he was developing his business, he wanted to bring it into Africa.

Yes if the rich had to look the poor in the eye every day, they would have a much different outlook! They would realize that the poor are humans. I have seen my own role models RUN from beggars, "No no can't help you" scared as S to face that simple truth.

At least admit there is something wrong. at least stare it in the face, at least LOOK your fellow human in the eye. Before you go about making the world a better place. This is why spirituality is a very big part of changing the world. Most people want to do it from a position of individuality and numbers that alienate them from the problem.

It's not to say everyone deserves for you to feed them, but at least UNDERSTAND and see them human to human. That is one big way TPTB have divided us, it's very obvious.

This is an excellent sociology study and too bad it's not recieving more attention. Maybe it will, but this explains so much, things we might already know on some level, but it brings it out and puts it into discussion.


edit: also when you read it, it's too wide for the page, anyway to fix this?

[edit on 6-2-2010 by Novise]



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