This and that: The power of power

Physics defines power as the rate of transfer of energy. Energy transfer is used to do work so power is also the rate at which this work is performed. Hence by the law of nature, more power should result in more work. Political personalities define power as the ability to influence the behavior of others willingly or otherwise. Power is accepted as endemic to people in a society even if it is at times evil or unjust. – Do not confuse authority with power; as a teacher has authority over her pupil in the class; it is not the same as power. In the corporate environment, power is flows either upward or downward depending on flow of decisions - either top down or bottom up. Often, the study of power in a society is referred to as POLITICS. At the top of this paragraph POWER was a good thing; but by the end of the paragraph power has been turned into an ogre.

But the equation of power in everyday life, as can be seen from the above, is very simple. When power is used it has to generate energy and result in some work done. Power used in any other manner is a waste serving no purpose except to let out obnoxious gas at times.

Everything in this world is relative. The first relative to face the wrath of power usually is the wife. I am not being a chauvinist, but the male more often than not feels or wants to assert his imagined superiority. He wants to tell that ‘so many people work under me…’ et al….A newly elected leader anywhere probably wants to exhibit his ‘superiority’ among those around him. This tendency is often an offshoot of an inferiority complex. When one’s own mind does not accept  the fact of conferred leadership or authority to wield power , there arises an inane desire to exhibit power any which way to reassure the self by showing off.

The power is the feeling that power is recognized without really exhibiting power. The power of power is nixed and does not result in anything useful when it is exhibited for show or self esteem.