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Debate Info

10
7
more power corrupts you magnifies whats already in you
Debate Score:17
Arguments:10
Total Votes:17
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 more power corrupts you (6)
 
 magnifies whats already in you (4)

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logicaljoe(529) pic



Does Power Corrupt or Magnify?

When one gains more power, would you say that it corrupts you or does power simply magnify what's already in you, who you already were?

more power corrupts you

Side Score: 10
VS.

magnifies whats already in you

Side Score: 7
2 points

Most people live fairly ordinary lives until an extraordinary circumstance makes them realize they have a new opportunity to do something. Whether it's steal the change from a copier, eat the candy from a broken vending machine, use a company vehicle for personal purposes, give employment via nepotism to family and friends, or in the far more extreme circumstances kill an opponent or use political power to get rich. And they may justify it thinking that's what anyone else would do, or that's just how the game or job plays out, or if they don't do it someone else will. In fact I'll assert only a small fraction of the people convicted of abusing powers would agree that in the beginning that was their plan all along. Yes some scheme to use and abuse. But far more than that started out with the fairly good intentions and it just grew into so much more over the years.

Side: more power corrupts you
2 points

Here's my example for this side of the argument: we are all vulnerable to temptations. The more power you are exposed to, the greater the temptations to follow.

A very average me could only be tempted to buy a new computer or new pair of shoes or a nice suit. But give me 1000x more power, and now my temptations become grander (buy people, buy laws, control policies and entire nations).

The more power you have the more powerful the temptations to corrupt you that come. It doesn't mean you will succumb to those greater temptations, but the propensity to remain pure and innocent is far less than to become corrupt and give into all your dirty desires.

Side: more power corrupts you

Well, the old adage, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely pretty well sims it up, but then where does that place God? Power without responsibility and accountability will inevitably lead to corruption. People don't do what's expected, people do what's inspected. Anyone in a position of power whose activities go unchecked will begin to feel like God almighty and act accordingly.

Side: more power corrupts you
2 points

Clinton Crime Foundation does come to light and exposes how power corrupts but the Democrat low information voter fails to see this.

Side: more power corrupts you
1 point

I believe power corrupts because we are all the same in that we have similar likes, similar fears. Some people may be corrupt but not all people act on treating others as if they now are superior.

Consider the following scenario:

you enter an expensive department store but people barely notice you in the store and when they service you their attitude is blasé. One day you are a proud winner of the lottery and were talking big bucks. If you return to that same department store will your attitude still be the same as accepting that sort of treatment?

Side: more power corrupts you
1 point

Power currupts almost always. It is rare that anyone will achieve or even just pursue a place of power without pursuing superiority over others, ehile using them for power, wealth, and greed.

When Jesus said "the greatest among you will serve," then He did things like washing their dirty feet, and evemtually laid down His own Life for them.

Whether you believe or don't believe in who Jesus said that He was, put that aside for a minute. And lets just address Jesus the Man, Leader, and Philosopher in my post.

Whether or not you believe He was the Christ. Or If you think He wasn't God. Or even if you think there is no God at all. Let's discuss the implications of His messages and His actions. Which are told in detailed accounts by four different authors. Eyewitness accounts and historical documentation recording His Speeches, His message, and also His ultimate trial and death sentence.

Jesus taught a message of honor codes and sacrafice. He lead by example powerfully, authoritatively, yet His honor and humility remained in tact.

We know power and popularity didn't go to His head, because the four eyewitnesses each describe a man of character, with purpose of good intention rehardless of the cost, and a man who maintained an attitude of humility

Each author documents the events and popularity surrounding Him and reading through the accounts, even in unintional context through what they described as journalist reporting what they see and hear around them, the popularity of crowds, and the directions Jesus decided to take in His actions and His speeches, we see a clear picture of the man Jesus.

You can even say, He brought demise to Himself. He missed opportunities to turn mobs of people that would have willingly united and supported Him. And would have rioted, and taken up arms for His cause, He could have had them make Him a King, a ruler of the day. Instead He took a stand on an unpopular message that eventually took His Life.

He showed and example of One who washes feet and serves others regardless of strength in power and charisma He had.

At times He was very popular, crowds of 5000 and 7000, He could have grown the that if He would have made the message more attractive. Or if He would have touched on their discontent circumstances and led them to revolt. He could have easily turned the mob against the religious leaders, and probably even against the Roman rule of their day. If He were Black Lives Matter, He could have turned the crowd to support His power by touching the difficulties they faced in their social, political, and economical circumstances.

But instead, since He "thought" He was the Messiah, And even if He was only a man, He clearly interpreted the scrolls leading Him to be genuine, and honorable, and with good intentions of bringing Salvation in the way told through prophets. Through teaching with "power" with confidence and authority, as if He were the Son of God," for which a challenge to religious leaders who as He said put weights on the people that they wouldn't put on themselves. He actually displayed a contrast to power that currupts, by obtaining power in humility and service, taking nothing for Himself even though He could have.

Jesus showed power that would ultimately end in a death sentence, stating Himself to His followers, that He would follow His cause to His final act, and lay down His Life for His Sheep, which He followed through and did.

Whether He was off base or not isn't the point in this post.

He had a mission of Messiah, as described in the hailed scrolls of the people, and He followed through with commitment to His cause. With a message without violence, and without using His power and popularity to make His life more valuable then the lives of others.

So we see Him committed to a cause, without exploiting or taking advantage of the crowd. But instead went against the crowd regardless of His "own greed or lust for power." And that message eventually made Him a Captain that chose to go down with the ship, while lifting his lowey followers up onto lifeboats, putting their safety 1st and instructing them to be in a safe place, even excusing them from radicalizing and bringing on themselves dangerous repercussions. He excused them by the same authority He taught in every matter. So they didn't feel the need or compulsion to go down also with the captain. I think we can agree, that when cult leaders lead, they lead to feel empowered, and if they drink poison, their followers are expected to drink poison.

He told Peter, "you willl deny Me tonight, but take heart you can give your life another day, but today I forgive you already." That day was His day, the day only the Captain goes down with the ship.

So we see He used His power to protect them over Himself. Excusing them, basically He said I'll take the fall today not you!

I command you to make it through the day alive, no matter what happens to Me today!

So if you don't believe and you know these nice highlights, consider His teaching as a philosopher first then, and take the opportunity to read His teachings. And start there, simply reading about a man of honor, who taught messages that build good character, and are applicable in life and relationships.

.

Side: more power corrupts you

The power and the love of God the creator will magnify you, while striving to have power over other humans will corrupt you. this is a simply thing. i used to be quite wealthy, and I had a $300,000 house in a swanky Seattle suburb. I was in a popular band and we had all them women and dope and booze we wanted. But i was poor in spirit and didn't believe in God and even mocked Him and His followers.

then i was saved with a vision right out of the Bible. Now, I really don't have a pot to piss in financially. I just got out of jail, my wife is divorcing me, and I am living in a small apartment in a crappy part of town. I only made about $20,000 last year and will make a little less this year. but I am beyond wealthy in Spirit since I turned my life over to God. I have purpose in life and wake up smiling every day. I have a mission and its successful completion will snug me even tighter into God's embrace. when I walked into my new apartment monday everything was painted and made-ready and clean and it had no flaws.

except the curtain in my BR was burned! It was another confirmation....a WINK!>>from God. all is well in my life. Gory Be.

Side: magnifies whats already in you
2 points

Here's my example for this side of the argument: an adult male is disgruntled and from all the years of abuse, neglect, and pain, he has decided he wants to lash out and go out with a bang. He goes to his workplace where he was just fired, and kills the boss with a knife because that's all he could afford.

Give that same adult male 100x more power, and he's going to do the same thing, only in a more magnified level. So instead, he decides to drop a nuclear bomb on a city because he's just disgruntled and hates life and everyone.

It magnifies what's already in you.

Side: magnifies whats already in you
2 points

You could also say that power magnifies what is already in you, which is already corrupt ;)

Side: magnifies whats already in you
1 point

I am a firm believer in certain qualities needing to be already resident in the individual in order to manifest in their behaviour. You may pour water on soil, but unless there is already a seed present, you will not see anything come to fruition. If somebody attains power and it shows them in a corrupt light, then it means that corruption was lying dormant within them and has merely now been activated. Otherwise everyone who attains power would be corrupt which is certainly not the case.

Side: magnifies whats already in you