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IDEOLOGY AND ETHICS SURVEY SAMPLE ARGUMENTS |
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| 5. |
How much power should we give strong and charismatic political leaders? |
| (- 5) Decentralization view: It is always very dangerous to give any single individual too much power, which always tempts him with its intoxicating effects. Even if he is basically honest and self-restrained, this can inflict quiet opportunity costs. It can condition people towards authoritarianism while atrophying their ability to engage in viable grass roots political organization. The public will eventually get a pie in its face when the next leader turns out to be a rotten tyrant and then they discover that they have lost the grass roots ability to resist him. Political power must always, without exception, stem from the grass roots locality. People must resist jingoism that takes the focus off hard-headed examination of real issues, the realities of government power abuse, and the continuing need for local action and local empowerment. The best leaders have their subordinates so well developed that they can easily "assume the mission" if their leaders falter. |
. . . | (+5) Centralization view: In the real world people tend to run in gangs with pyramidal power structures. Effective leaders usually accumulate quiet forms of power that are off the table of organization charts. This tends to be true regardless of the official political philosophy. All human societies have a strong emotional cravings for father figures as well as a rational component. When they fall into disarray, cynicism, and despondency, it is vital to have a charismatic leader who can restore the people's idealism so that they can be jump-started out of their lethargy and move forward again with vision. To accomplish this task, a leader must not only be strong, but must also actively motivate followers to restore their pride. He must even be prepared to act in a very firm and forceful manner. Without strong, authoritative leadership, people tend to wallow in chaos and general social ineffectiveness. Certain very gifted individuals can become for all practical purposes irreplaceable as vital leaders. |
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