Power

[The Hammer]

Quoting Kenyan feminist activist and poet, Shailja Patel

“You want to understand how power works in any society, watch who is carrying the shame and who is doing the shaming”



How else might we see how power is operating in any given society?

 

[sun rise]

Look at the laws to see who are passing laws marginalizing certain groups and making it harder for them to vote.

 

[PureX]

Who is telling the lies and who is believing them.

 

[PureX]

Who is doing the work and who is directing it.

 

[ChristineM]

Quoting Kenyan feminist activist and poet, Shailja Patel

“You want to understand how power works in any society, watch who is carrying the shame and who is doing the shaming”



How else might we see how power is operating in any given society?

Anyone giving the orders or in control of a situation from the little Hitler traffic warden (who assumes far more power then the job deserves) through the shop or factory manager to the person with control of the big red end of the planet button.

 

[sayak83]

Quoting Kenyan feminist activist and poet, Shailja Patel

“You want to understand how power works in any society, watch who is carrying the shame and who is doing the shaming”



How else might we see how power is operating in any given society?

Power is: Joules/second.
Settled.

 

[Revoltingest]

Power:
Ability to effect results, & to avoid being held accountable.

 

[Nakosis]

Quoting Kenyan feminist activist and poet, Shailja Patel

“You want to understand how power works in any society, watch who is carrying the shame and who is doing the shaming”



How else might we see how power is operating in any given society?

Generally, who ever controls the money.

 

[The Hammer]

Generally, who ever controls the money.

In our society sure, but not all run on money.

 

[Nakosis]

In our society sure, but not all run on money.

Wealth, resources? Controlling food supply, housing access, hunting grounds?

 

[The Hammer]

Wealth, resources? Controlling food supply, housing access, hunting grounds?

Fair enough points.

 

[PureX]

Generally, who ever controls the money.

In our culture, absolutely.

 

[Nakosis]

In our culture, absolutely.

Understanding the power dynamics in other cultures would be interesting.

Wealth, the promise of wealth or the suppression of wealth seems to be what provides power over others.

It is hard to imagine this system not overpowering all other systems.

 

[PureX]

Understanding the power dynamics in other cultures would be interesting.

Wealth, the promise of wealth or the suppression of wealth seems to be what provides power over others.

It is hard to imagine this system not overpowering all other systems.

In the past, control of land (resources) was power. Or control of armies (might) was power. And there's always been the willingness to resort to excessive violence or cruelty as a means of power. Now days it money because money has become the representation of everything people need to live. Money is freedom. Money is health and life. Money is security. Money is opportunity. Money is prestige. Money is influence. And most of all, money gives us control over our own fate. Money is autonomy.

It wasn't always this way, but it is certainly this way, now.