Addiction to Power
“Power is the ultimate
aphrodisiac.” – Henry Kissinger
“Nearly all men can stand
adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” - Abraham Lincoln.
By J.M. Hamilton (1-9-2016)
We’ve
all seen the clinical trials where a rat or a monkey becomes addicted to meth, cocaine or heroin (perhaps even Oreos), and ultimately, elects the drug being administered over the
necessities of life: companionship, food, and health. And we’ve also seen the consequences, mental
and physical, when the drug under study is taken away.
Addiction often occurs when use of a substance floods the brain with either dopamine or serotonin,
chemicals that naturally occur within the brain. The resulting feelings of euphoria can become
so intense that it results in compulsive behavior focused upon recreating the
experience, over and over. The
compulsion can become so great that immediate gratification becomes primary,
and health, relationships, work, and long term planning suffer. As a result, dysfunction and poor judgment often
sets in for many addicts. There is said
to be a genetic link to addiction, and undoubtedly - emotional, environmental,
and psychological components as well. While
most studies and the DSM (the bible of the mental health community), focus on
alcohol, hard drugs, nicotine, and prescription meds when explaining addiction
and recommending treatment, there is also relatively newer interest in
behavioral addictions.
In
other words, behaviors that create the same chemical/neurotransmitter release
within the brain, seen in people who are addicted to drugs. Such behavioral addictions may include
gambling (which is already recognized by the DSM), sex, and quite possibly
power.
During
the holidays, J.M.H. wrote a piece entitled, Affluenza, where it was noted that
many members of the elite community exhibit psychopathic and sociopathic tendencies. Today, we take this analysis
a step further, and examine how the power dynamic maybe habit forming, indeed –
addictive, and the consequences for society.
Some
mental health professionals have noted that power increases dopamine in the
brain, not unlike some of the aforementioned drugs. The surge in dopamine, created by obtaining
power or positions of authority, can be highly addictive. The chemical surge strengthens cognitive
power, and further boosts sex drive, confidence, and feelings of euphoria. The downside is power, and the resulting
chemical overload, may also boost anxiety, paranoia, and restlessness. Kicking it up a notch further, power and the
flood of neurotransmitters to the brain can create arrogance, impatience, and a
complete lack of empathy (witness, Messrs. Shkreli & Pearson – Big Pharma
tycoons, and All-Star sociopaths). Take
away the power, and the individual is often left with a very nasty hangover or
worse, withdrawal.
At least one psychologist notes that power brings about a desire to
control events and surroundings. Makes perfect sense… a person
who craves drugs wants to control their flow of drugs to keep their high
maintained; accordingly, a power addict too, wants to control events so as to
maintain power and the high their power generates.
Are
we witnessing a power addiction in the formation of a U.S. oligarchy that control
and own the highest offices of government?
What about the string of Republican presidential candidates making a
pilgrimage to Las Vegas to meet with Mr. Sheldon Adelson, a casino magnate and
billionaire (the very same magnate, who recently purchased a Las Vegas newspaper, so as to presumably control local news media content)? With government co-opted and owned, the
billionaire class can write tax law; privatize government; subjugate regulatory bodies; and start wars, which generally generate obscene profits. The financial and political elite can even max out a government’s credit line, much like private equity chop shops have been known
to destroy businesses and jobs for quick financial gain.
Can
we also see the power addiction in the formation of monopolies and cartels
throughout the U.S. and global economy, with record M&A? Monopolies, of course, are a control freak’s
fantasy, since monopolistic pricing power is the ultimate form of economic
control. Moreover, if a group of control-freaks can buyoff elected officials and the legislative body – government power being the only countervailing force that can mitigate the effects of exceptional financial power – well then, the game is all but sewed up and in effect,
rigged.
None
of this is to say that all men and women who come into power turn out badly or
become addicted to power. There are a few examples in history where power did not become a corrupting influence. President George Washington comes to mind, who
is said to have walked away from the presidency, and power, on several occasions. To this day, there are still a handful of public officials, who recognize power’s corrupting influence, and can simply
take it and not become corrupted by it, or leave it. However, judging
from some of many tenured officials in the U.S. Senate (there’s more than 20
septua- and octogenerians), the Congress, and the Supreme Court, those
individuals who can walk away from power’s addictive qualities are far and few
between. Those who come into power
within the economic and financial sectors of the economy appear, in many instances, to have an even
harder time walking away from power. Many
are carried out. The few that can walk
away from economic power often go into philanthropy, quite possibly to assuage feelings of guilt on how they amassed their fortunes.
Recognizing powers addictive qualities is key to understanding: those
who are attracted to power;
power’s corrupting influence; and what can be done to contain and mitigate the
absolute corruption that all too often follows.
If power were a drug we could take it away from the addict. But power is obtained within events, times
of upheaval, and is driven by behavior.
All we have to do is look at history to see how power’s corrupting
influence, and the megalomania that all too often ensues, ends badly…. with
empire after overextended empire falling into disrepair and ultimately, the
dust bin of history.
Key
to addressing these addictive qualities would be to place obvious limits on power,
that is to say, take away the rewards that attract the wrong element. For the public sector, we are talking term
limits; limits upon campaign finance and the time frame of the campaign season
(w/ all additional campaign contributions collected, above a certain cap, going
to charities or to pay down the national debt); and driving a wedge in the
revolving door between the government and the private sector, and v.v. If a candidate could not become rich
obtaining higher office, America might find itself with an entirely different
leadership type. Imagine that.
For
the private sector, controlling and containing the darkest elements of economic
and financial power means an independent and vigilant government that not only
fights against the formation of cartels and monopolies, but breaks up existing combinations with monopolistic pricing power. Where grants of monopoly and patents are afforded by the government, pricing
and profit margins must be heavily regulated, so that the public and the public trust are not abused. Here, name your
favorite - or most loathed – cartel with monopolistic pricing power, such
as: Big Pharma, Big Oil, the DOD, Wall
Street banking, the Airlines, Cable & Internet providers, and News Media
content providers, etc., etc., etc.
In
addition, vigilant government leadership means taxing existing wealth that has
grown to heretofore unimaginable extremes, due to a rigged system and a
prolonged Neo-gilded Age. It also means
maintaining a healthy fourth estate, with a wide diversity of opinion, and keeping it out of
the hands of the elite and privileged few.
The current business communities fixation on stock price and EPS… at the expense of long term growth, R&D/CAPEX,
improving worker pay/aggregate demand (and hence, top line growth), and better customer
service… Must also be addressed. Much of this will likely come naturally,
when cartels and monopolies are broken up and forced to compete.
It’s
called a free market economy, as opposed to the crony economy that Americans
are faced with today.
Ironically,
if a person going through drug detoxification does so under a doctor’s care,
they are said to be going through “withdrawal.”
However, without certified professional oversight, and when the drug of
choice is self-administered, the person going through withdrawal is labeled an
“addict.” Does this mean with board of
directors’ or government certification, the power junkie becomes a Senator,
SCOTUS member, or CEO…. as opposed to
just another power addict?
To be sure, America needs driven personalities and leadership. But both the leaders actions and drives
should be continuously examined and questioned, with full transparency to
all. That is to say, so that the public
can ascertain when a leader is acting: in the general interest of clients, their constituents/employees,
and society; or when a so-called leader has crossed the Rubicon and gone full
blow megalomaniacal, answering only to calls of their own aggrandizement and
the accumulation of money and power.
Is the leader in a position of power to help others, or are they there to help themselves?
Is the leader in a position of power to help others, or are they there to help themselves?
It’s
a problem we see with our billionaire class daily, even when said billionaire
professes to have the interests of the public at heart.
See
the lab rat repeatedly bang on the lever to feed their jones?
P.S.
J.M.H.
has made similar observations before: If
the human race is to evolve & survive, will someday future generations look
back upon our history only to realize that the world, for the most part, has
been frequently led by those who were incapacitated by an addiction to power?
Copyright JM Hamilton Publishing 2016
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