The cliche is that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Is there any real wisdom behind these words?

Everyone understands the usual intoxicants, such as alcohol and drugs. We even recognize all manner of other kinds of "addictions", such as to sex, the internet and so forth. For many of these there have arisen Twelve Step groups, whose purpose is to aide the individual in overcoming the addiction, and the unwanted behaviors. Here as well it is clearly recognized that the addictive personality's behaviors not only injure themselves, but many others.

What about the addiction to power?

Modern political life in America is now ripe with an abundance of examples of the intoxication that results from the addiction to power. From the highest levels, including the Presidency, down to the lowest, such as the Attorney General of Ohio, the intoxication resulting from the addiction to power is altering the judgment of our public servants. Like all addicts, they think their behavior is rational and moral, and will violently deny any suggestion otherwise. But the sad, nay the tragic, truth is that the intoxication of power corrupts judgment and morality to the worst degree possible, with horrible consequences for all those subject to the abuse of such power that results.

Is there an up side?

History teaches that ordinary People only rise to face reality when the pain has become extreme. History also teaches that social extremes bring about their own destruction. The intoxication of the addiction to power leads in only one direction.: Tragic waking up for the People, and the demise and fall of the perpetrators. I don't know if this is an up side, but it is the way the world works.

Well, we now have Bush for the next few years. What does this mean?

It means, essentially, that the Governance of America has been usurped, and an illegitimate power has installed itself. This theft of power is something we are so unused to (we see it elsewhere all the time), that everywhere people are in denial. Our minds try to insist - it could not happen here.

The Press ignores the reality of the meaning of the difference between the reported results of the election and the exit polls. The proof is there for those who do not want to sleep. It has not helped that the Democrats, especially Kerry, did not stand up for the American voter.

Kerry won the election, and the powerful were allowed to steal it at the electronic ballot box. The Republic has been betrayed, and the only question is how long will it take for the People, and/or for the judgment of history to acknowledge this.

The Democrats should have refused to participate in Washington. Think of what it would mean, if they would have walked away from the halls of Congress, and proclaimed the Presidency to be in the hands of traitors to the Republic. But this kind of standing upright for the truth, and in support of the real will of the American voter, is not in the character of politicians. They are not about what is right, and haven't been about what is right for a long time now. They are truly only concerned with the commerce of power, their own privileges, and the wishes of their masters - the elite lords of finance.

What can be done you ask?

We can write a new constitution. Go here for details: Prelude to a Second American Constitution: strategy and tactics in the War the Rich make upon the Poor.