@hughster Watching Musk, I learned about how people with power turn into tyrants (or monsters).

#elon #elonmusk #birdsite

@Cooljojo @hughster

Power does not corrupt. It reveals.

When you get enough power to do whatever you want, people see what kind of person you were all along.

Musk did't just change into a douchebag. He was a douchebag all along, but he didn't have the power to flex about it.

@timrburnham @Cooljojo @hughster

Not sure what you mean. If you're saying it has always corrupted, I respectfully submit that isn't the case.

Presidents like FDR or Lincoln have wielded power in pursuit of good. There have even been morally just monarchs, like Dom Pedro II of Brazil.

By no means are all people naturally corrupt. I'd even go so far as to say the majority aren't. If they were, we'd be backstabbing each other in broad daylight. We naturally form communities instead.

@timfordwrites @Cooljojo @hughster I won't say anything about monarchs, too far outside my experience.

I'd argue that presidents are poor examples. A prime goal of democracy is to withhold corrupting power from individuals: power is wielded by institutions, stewarded by people. In a sense, billionaires are more powerful (less constrained?) than presidents.

The way to be president is to reveal your character, not the other way round. Sometimes, voters choose a president of poor character.