Power: The Best Opiate of All

Some people stay grounded and handle power well. Obama never let it go to his head. He was an authentic person in an important job who used his power but didn’t think he was “grand” or “special”.  In addition to being a cloaked racial slur, the Republicans didn’t like his tan suit because they thought it didn’t project power.

The deceased Romanian dictator, Nicolae Ceausescu, apparently cared about his people until he visited the dictator of North Korea. He came home, closed the borders, and built a 1000 room home, called “The Peoples’ Palace” for him and his wife. What happened?

Insecure people are vulnerable to the elixir of power. The first rush is like a heroin jolt, and addiction is just around the corner.  Power, like a drug, needs continual usage and particularly during times of stress. 45 keeps going back to rallies in places that are reassuring and supportive. The adulation he receives from his fans reinforces his delusions of greatness. His rule by executive order reflects not only his inability to work with others but also his love of exercising power. Does he get a power high? Take a guess.

It is not surprising that a number of cabinet positions are open and that many people have left 45’s administration. John Kennedy exercised power by demanding honest feedback from his cabinet, weighing their opinions, and then deciding. He was humble enough to realize that he couldn’t know everything. He was smart, confident, and knowledgeable, but he knew his limits. 45 is threatened by differing opinions. Why? Because differences threaten his weak self-esteem and expose his lack of knowledge. He doesn’t want skilled, articulate people around him. His psychological well-being is more important to him than the fate of the United States.