Authority and I have a very mixed relationship. I maintain that half of society's problems involve a deep misunderstanding of authority, what it is, and what it really isn't.
All to often in the world at large I find the word referring to a force of compulsion and intimidation where it would seem 'authority' and 'tyranny' are functional synonyms that differ only in the degree of favoritism offered the subordinate. In my thought however authority is not, can not, be a compulsion but rather must be a permission an individual grants.
By analogy to JRR's masterwork of philosophy as fiction? The difference between the two definitions is the same difference seen between Sauron and Gandalf. But situations that fit the same frame as that story are not where the misunderstanding works its' deepest harm on humanity. No. In the second and shared reality where history is written there will always be Frodo's and Aragorn's to contest tyranny usurping authority by force of arms.
Where the misunderstanding works deep harm is in the inner first reality of the individuals who have internalized that misunderstanding to the total detrimet of that thing called "freedom."
The cutting edge of the confusion goes like this: to live in a state of Freedom is defined as a life of self determination devoid of irrational or unjust compulsions impacting on the decisions of that life.
The problem? All forms of civilization demand cooperation, and all cooperation is based on some form of mutually accepted authority. Regardless of the endeavor some one person, recognized by everyone else involved, has to be the one to say "Go!" when it is time for the group to act. That person is the authority of the affair assumed by consensus to be the most competent individual involved.
All of the others involved? They all had to agree who was to yell "Pull" when the time came right, essentially temporarily deeding their decision making initiative to the authority. Easily seen, with just a moments thought.
What is not so easily seen is the fact that granting that authority is in and of itself an act of authority, the act of the internal authority of a rational mind to decide when and to whom external authority is to be granted. There is no way this is not the case, it is hard logic.
IMCO a huge part of what is driving the crises seen in current events is the result of this confusion being amplified and exploited by both, all, sides of the covert cultural warfare currently raging for control of the American psyche and soul. As it presents now to have influence over the function of internal authority is the most powerful weapon currently deployed.
To the degree that some external factor or faction influences the function of internal authority governing the granting of external authority that same factor or faction has short circuited the absolute foundation concepts of Freedom by Democratic Self Rule.
If you have that influence it is you, not the electorate, who decides who the society should grant the highest and most powerful positions entrusted with the task of making the correct decisions on behalf of the society in question. Democracy becomes a facade, freedom a fading memory as the years go by. Exactly what has been seen in America over the last fifty some years that I have witnessed.
Distilled to the essence of the matter Donald Trump and company are a scorch the earth retreat awaiting the chance to mount a wintertime counter attack against those who deployed a weapon designed with full maliscious intent to destroy feedom where freedom begins... which is between the ears of the electorate!
Who did this you ask? How did they do it? I have my own best guess as to the who just as you will, and how is a subject for another and much more socio political post entirely.
Semper Fi soulMarine... we're not defeated yet!
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