I've heard that power and money don’t change people; they just let people be themselves. There’s no question that the more money and/or power one has, the more freedom he has to do as he chooses. It’s easy to be yourself when you’re not constrained by outside sources or the lack of resources. The person behind the mask isn’t always pretty; the person behind the mask isn’t always kind. Sometimes, seeing the “real” in a person can be a pretty scary thing. A true test of character is what you do when you have the opportunity to be yourself and do what you want instead of what is right.
No one is immune to the personal corruption of power and money. Not everyone gets a chance to be rich or flush with money, but at some point, almost everyone gains some type of power over other humans. Most of us become parents and get to rule over our children. Many find themselves in a supervisory role over fellow employees. Some power comes from physical strength, while some comes from a person’s status in society.
Elected position is a rare source of power. Such power often inebriates the holder into a stupor of self-importance, coinciding with an inability to recognize or feel the pain he inflicts on lesser beings. These people are the scariest of all. They often wrap themselves in a borrowed cloak of righteousness while proclaiming the sanctity of the work they do on behalf of the people. The test of character is secondary to their ego; if others must suffer in order for the hero that lives within them to prevail, that’s just the way it has to be.
We all know people that fail the test of character that’s presented to them when they’re bestowed with power of some sort. These people tend to find themselves with a close-knit group of fans that say nothing but what the hero wants to hear. Any dissenting opinion is either ignored or attacked under the false flag of righteousness. Those benefitting from the warmth of the hero’s power suffer in silence so as to not upend their own fragile place in the world.
You often hear from folks that knew these people before they became successful. Sometimes, they recount a history of the person acting no different than he has since the day he acquired power. Other times, you will learn that, way back in the day, the person at issue was reputed to have a heart of gold and only wanted the best for everyone. Maybe some people do change when they get the chance.
It’s rare that any one of us can do anything about those in power that abuse the gift they have received. There are times to fight and other times to sit back and try to not make things worse. As important as it is to make sure you don’t confuse any power you obtain as an indication of your own self-worth, it’s just as important to stand up or seek to vanquish those that would build their empire on the backs of the weakened masses.
The test of character is one that never ends. “Just because I can” is never a valid excuse for taking advantage of those less fortunate than one’s self. There are many that will succeed in spite of the way they treat others. But, they say Karma never forgets. It catches up to everyone, even those that do what they do because they can and not because it’s right. Karma comes for everyone. The taste is bitter, and it burns all the way down. That’s true for everyone, even those of us way up in the CHEAP SEATS!
Bill James is a co-founder of the James Law Firm with offices in Little Rock, Conway and Fayetteville, Arkansas. His primary area of practice is criminal defense. He can be contacted at Bill@JamesFirm.com