power

What exactly is it with people and power? What's so great about it? I understand how feeling in control of one's life is part of what gives an individual a sense of self - a solid, tangible foundation from which to grow - but why do so many people take it so far beyond that?

What is so good about being the most powerful and being in control over other? In 1984, the Inner Party members strive to create a world in which they maintain absolute power and class differences for eternity. Okay, but then what? After they've achieved this, what are they going to do? Sit back, relax, and take in the sights of the wretched world they've created? Watch their mindless human inferiors drag themselves around, taking pleasure in knowing that the brainwashed masses would do anything they were commanded to do?

Those in control will have created a world of empty human shells. Everything worth living or fighting for will have been either consumed or destroyed - everything except for brainless human-power. What's so great about that?

I'd think that part of the satisfaction of controlling others is that the people you're controlling know - on some level, at least - that they're being controlled...maybe even jealous of how much power you have. But if the masses you're controlling have no brains, what's the point? You're the most powerful person in the world, but you can't rub it in anyone's face because everyone's incapable of understanding what that means.

Or maybe that's not the point? Why is "playing God" so intoxicating? Why are so many people obsessed with the Sims? Power is something everyone wants in some form or another. It's necessary even, to survive. But the notorious "power-hungry" dictators, politicians, businessmen, and CEOs whose scandals make front-page news - those types can never get enough of it.

I wonder if any of them seriously thought about what would happen if they did succeed in nation or world-wide domination. Maybe the only thing they're concerned about is becoming more powerful. Maybe the possibility of that happening is zero, or maybe the idea is so unsettling that no one wants to think about where the world is going and what we're going to do when we get there. Maybe the power junkies will just continue gathering power, so long as there's enough stuff left to fuel their journey. But when it's all said and done, and there's nothing left to own or control, where will that leave them?

And if they've mastered their own forms of doublethink and are immersed in their own realities, what do we do to stop them? Can we do anything? If we could....would we?