Social Power Versus State Power

The history of America beginning in 1787-1789 has seen the ever-increasing displacement of social power by state power.  Visualize, if you will, a rectangle (in landscape mode) with a line drawn from the lower-left hand corner to the upper right-hand corner, thus forming two right triangles inside the rectangle.  The left vertical of the rectangle illustrates the degree of social or state power at a point in time.  The lower horizontal of the rectangle illustrates the passage of time from the Founding to the present day.  We have moved over the course of our history from social power to state power.
 
The distinction or differentiation between social power and state power is critical to understand because the loss of social power in our nation changes the very nature of our country.  It cannot be otherwise.  Let us proceed with a bit more detail in order to clarify. 

What Is Social Power?

Social power dictates that decision-making regarding all societal matters (economic, political, educational, charitable, general welfare, etc.) should be made locally and not at the national level or even the state level. Such decision-making exemplifies the principle of subsidiarity which is the principle that the prevalent power should be that closest to the issue or challenge to be resolved.  In many, if not most cases in our early history, this power was exercised by religious organizations, community organizations, fraternal associations, and the like.  And, they did a superb job because a local community knows what is best for the citizens of that community.

We are at a point in our history where social power has been driven into a small corner of our national life.  Concurrently, we see social power has been displaced by state power, now centralized at the Federal level.  

State Power Has Become Too Centralized

All civil and just societies require a government that uniquely reflects the consensus of the people, not the desires of a ruling political class.   We have now seen what happens when a political class takes charge and begins to operate with unfettered power in total disregard of what is best for America and its citizens.

Political and economic power in America has become largely centralized at the Federal level with all the attendant abuses of corruption, gross wastefulness, and a total lack of accountability.  History has demonstrated repeatedly that centralized power has never ended in a benign and beneficial way.  Centralized power will eventually lead to a totalitarian state.  America seems to be heading that way.

Can America return to its former status as a country that is governed by social power?  In my opinion, that will take at least two generations and a mindset shift of tectonic proportions. 

Three Quotes To Ponder

Two from Lord Acton (1834-1902)

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

“And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently, men with the mentality of gangsters get control.  History has proven that.”

One from Eric Hoffer (1902-1983)

“No matter how noble the objective of a government, if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens human life, and breeds ill will and suspicion; it is an evil government.”

Links

External:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalberg-Acton%2C_1st_Baron_Acton

Internal:  https://whitebeardwisdom.com/pride-plus-power-is-a-deadly-combination/

 

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Andrew J Guinosso

Professional Writer and Published Author of "The Success Playbook for Everyone." Retired Business Executive, Entrepreneur, and Restauranteur