The Acquisition Of Power

Few things are as hated or feared by those of diverse political stances as power.  Holding a position of formal or informal power is commonly seen as something that merits suspicion and condemnation--at least selectively, with the exceptions usually being whatever undeserving politicians they subjectively respect from the corrupt faction of their choosing.  The acquisition of power is nevertheless not something that deserves criticism or revulsion unless a person harbors irrational motives or abuses that power.  In fact, it is a potential solution to the apathy, stupidity, and hypocrisy in the world.

If someone will not bow to reason and will not pursue justice, they may still react favorably to something else: power.  Perhaps they fear or dislike inconvenience, social ostracism, or the feeling of being different from others.  If any of these things bring them discomfort, a rationalist can exploit their fear or insecurity by using power in a way aimed at driving a wedge between them and others or even between their various desires.  Power, of course, is not the same as tyranny, so no legitimate objection to this can be made; some people will hate this distinction, but they can only loathe it in vain.

The acquisition and exercise of power in a way that does not violate any moral obligations is not a logical impossibility, after all.  There is no aspect of something being a display of intellectual, social, or corporate power (to list only several examples) that by necessity makes it a display of injustice.  As long as a person does not use power to engage in actual sins, like slander, physical abuse, or rape, their possession of it is innocent and amoral.  Only a tyrant, imbecile, or egoist misuses their power.

Since tyranny, irrationality, and egoism are not inevitable in any person's life, they are not fated to appear wherever there is power, no matter how extensive that power may be.  Each person can control how they use the power within their grasp, whether that power is only over their own actions or over an entire country.  The ability to make rational decisions does not vanish as one's power increases.  Power does not override all other aspects of a person's nature unless they allow it to.  This means that it can be used benevolently and pragmatically without error.

Power, by its very nature, can seize the attention of people who would otherwise ignore the person wielding it and that person's worldview entirely.  Anyone who wants to do so little as put the spotlight on an issue or specific truth needs only to exercise whatever power they have with enough forcefulness to shake people out of their ideological slumber, given that they do no wrong in the process.  Guided by reason and justice, power is a highly useful tool in the hands of rationalists.