Power Hungry In America

The early Americans had been under British rule for quite a time, the founders of America had feared possible abuses of governmental powers. Our founders only wanted one thing, that is American liberty. They did not want to necessarily have a higher foreign authority ruling their colonies. Eleven years after the Declaration of Independence, Alexander Hamilton wrote, “Give all power to the many, they will oppress the few. Give all power to the few, they will oppress the many.” This is saying that if you give power to one class or one group of people, they will not please the others and will continue to tyrannize them. The other way around, will also be the same result. This is mainly because all of mankind is power-hungry. Alexander Hamilton

also wants to stress the fact of favoritism among people, that is when a few rule, that is the corrupt form of government Oligarchy. In an Oligarchy, a few people are powerful and that will obviously lead to racism and complete control with the wealthy few. This explains, “Give all power to the few, and they will oppress the many.” Likewise, the ruling of the many will not include all the people, and those few will be oppressed because of the many who decided to be power-hungry. Basically whoever has power, will only use it in their interest and ignore the interests of the others.

Benjamin Franklin also wrote, “There are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men.

These are ambition and avarice; the love of power and the love of money.” This nature has been corrupt since the beginning of time, and Christianity proves that by Adam’s sin of eating of the forbidden tree and causing the world to be corrupt forever. Benjamin Franklin wants to let the world know that mankind is easily swayed by greed and generally earthly desires which are power and money, as stated. The only thing that men will drive after is power and money, because it is their passion, it is what they love. As long as they feel powerful and rich, that is what they live for. Because mankind is corrupted in this way, a government needs to be made to keep control of its people. Government is certainly not something that should be wanted in this world, but something that is certainly

needed.

Another quote which demonstrates the corrupt love of power is by George Mason who said, “From the Nature of man, we may be sure that those who have power in their hands...will always when they can...increase it.” This quote also demonstrates the same as the second, that people when acquiring power in their hands, fall in love with it.

George Mason explains that when a man has power, he does not use that power with discernment. Once that power is in his hands, he will only crave for more. The nature of power to man is to utilize that power and gain more and more. Mankind are selfish and will only focus on their interests first and forget about the interests of people. A man will do whatever it takes to gain that power. Power is like an addiction, once you acquire a little bit of it, you will only want more. In summarization, man is currently power-hungry and has been power hungry from the beginning of time and will continue to be power-hungry till the end of ages. For this a government is needed and a constitution that all people will be able to comply with and this is the biggest safeguard. Everyone, regardless of their position will have to follow the constitution. The constitution keeps everything fair and is a good safeguard because with this no one will be oppressed and no one will be able to get too powerful either, so it's balanced and fair to everyone. Today this system is valid, because in the current news you can see that people are still very power-hungry and

there are concerns about it. In the twentieth century which is considered to this day a modern time is when Hitler and the Nazis rose to power. Hitler was the chancellor of Germany in 1933 and was in want of obtaining Sudetenland (of Czechoslovakia) and did take control of it promising not to invade anywhere else. However, he abused his power by then taking over Norway, Denmark and invading Poland on September 1,1939 which led to the start of the Second World War two days later because the world was worried about him taking over all of Europe possibly. Anyways, this is a good example of modern day concerns about the abuse of power.