The Abuse of Power

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The Abuse of Power

• By Colin Roth

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Thesis

• Politicians who abuse their absolute power as
  leaders end up hurting their country instead of
  helping it.

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Power and Rationality

• -Power and Rationality are very important when
  dealing with power.
• -Definitions of both words.
• Why do people lust after power?
• What is the influence of power?
• With power comes responsibility, and the need to
  think rationally about how you use it.

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Political Cartoon

• People naturally use power to their advantage.
• Cause Coming to/obtaining political power
• Effect How one chooses to use this extreme
  power.

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Quote

• I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and
  teach us, that the less we use our power the
  greater it will be. -Thomas Jefferson

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When someone comes to power

• Obtain an immense amount of power and control.
• With control comes responsibility.
• Makes decisions on laws, and decides what is
  acceptable and what isnt.
• Known, respected, or feared by nation.
• Political decisions must be made to benefit
  country not their own status.
• Must make rational decisions
• Abuse of political power can be devastating.

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Bush

• Post 9/11 reaction.
• Retaliation bombing.
• Showed world how we tough we think we are, and
  how we believe we can push other countries
  around.
• Global negative effect on country. --gt
• Troops in Iraq--gt losing too many soldiers/troops
• Fuel War
• Hurting our country. Killing our soldiers and
  wasting our money.
• If the world gets marching orders from America
  and not a common vision, it will be less inclined
  to follow themCarrying a big stick and speaking
  loudly at the same time only turns one into a
  schoolyard bully.-Michael Hirsch(Senior Editor
  for Newsweek)

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Hitler

• Leader of Nazi Germany
• Little man with too much power
• Believed Germany should be the center of the
  world.
• Clever, but horrible man who lost sight of what
  his job as a politician should be.
• Abused power to exemplify his ideas and status.
• His power put him in charge of Germany.
• Ironically same power turned the world against
  him.
• His abuse of power has made him historically
  known as a murderer, not a leader.
• Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power
  corrupts absolutely. -Lord Acton of England.

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Absolute Power
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Counter Argument

• One could argue that abuse of power is good
  because it makes other countries afraid and shows
  them how powerful a nation can be.

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Conclusion

• Why does it matter?
• Politicians run our country.
• When will the abuse of political power cease?
  Will it ever?
• Since talking doesnt solve anything these days,
  war might be the only means of resolution in the
  future. (hypothetical)
• Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual
  power. We have guided missles and misguided men.
  Martin Luther King Jr.

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Reaction

• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vr3B5c1J6vO8modere
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