Abuse of Power . . .

A common human foible, trip-up, or mistake is that little thing called abuse of power. We've all met up with it at some time or the other in our lives.  What is it? 

Abuse of power can be monumentally destructive if left unchecked.  Most of the time when we encounter it for the first time, our friends and family tend to rein us in, letting us know we are getting "the big head" and to come back down to reality and maintain the former character we were before -- the decent, caring loving human being they once knew. 

You see, my few dust-ups with abuse of power meant I got to banish (or worse) every right wing troll who came across my radar on a message board I moderated.  I had told everyone I did not like the moderation set-up, that it was a hierarchical system I couldn't approve of (ripe for abuse of power), but they said no, you would be a great moderator.  Well I just ended up hurting a lot of feelings with my new found power.  I didn't mince words.  In fact, I thought my words were going to change the world.  I just ruined lives and feelings.  I had the power to do so.  It felt horrible.

I returned from that experience a bit changed but not really surprised by it.  Remember, I had warned them.  And I vowed to never fall into the power trap again.  Our structural systems (patriarchal, capitalist, etc.) foundations are fucked up, but that is no excuse for human beings to keep going along willy-nilly abusing their power. 

That means you Mr. Ferguson Police!!  Serve & protect, dude. There is a reason we don't see you executing blue-eyed blonde girls in the middle of the street for no good reason . . .

In the hands of most or some men in our society, abuse of power can manifest as subtle to extremely violent, and it is perpetrated upon those who are the most exploitable.  Taken to extremes it is so darned ugly and vomit worthy.  And we call those who have taken it THAT FAR, monsters.  This is the court of public opinion.  And we have spoken. And we have ruled!

Dear Predators:   The Jerry Sanduskys, The Bill Cosbys, The Richard Nixons, The KOCh Brothers, The John Boehners, The Dick Cheneys, The George W. Bushs, or Your Daddy.  We will not take it anymore!

As Michael Che of SNL said last night, PULL UP YOUR PANTS Bill Cosbys of the world!