Photo by Markus Spiske
Where power lies can be a tricky question, especially when you are just growing up. But the answer is quite clear when you do: citizens hold the political power.
Learning the True Mandate of the People
Childhood is often a period of ignorance and innocence. This is a time when the world seems quite simple and straightforward. As we begin our journey through the winding roads of life, we catch glimpses of power here and there, not really understanding what we’ve seen.
From the quiet days of childhood, when we assert our will over toys and stuff, to the perilous moments of adulthood, where we are finally granted the opportunity to look fully at the nature of the world, the idea of power has long been a constant companion, and it is in acknowledging this fact that becomes a compass that points to where power lies.
Photo by San Fermin Pamplona
Where Power Lies According to Youth
In our formative years, we describe and often engage with power as a tangible, external force. Though we may not understand it yet, we acknowledge that there is a quality about others that compels us to follow their directions, either through kindness or harshness. Instinctively, we know power. As children, we see it wielded by parents, teachers, older siblings, and other figures of authority. We are especially keen on its use when it concerns us, such as a reprimand, a scolding, a stern talking to, etc. We grow up envying those with power, and we find it in other areas, too. It is then that we grasp the vague sentiment that power is everywhere. It is all around us and utilized to varying degrees by almost everyone, even those we suspect to not have real power.
This rudimentary understanding of power is limited and narrow. It is only power through the perspective of an individual. Thus, there are warped notions that we are in power when we are able to dominate or control.
As we mature, though, we quickly realize that this understanding of power is wrong. Although people may dominate each other individually, it is merely a facet of a far larger and more overarching system.
Looking for Power in the Masses
When we reach adulthood, we begin to see the fuller picture: power emanates from the will, and there is no stronger will than the collective will. Therefore, we learn that power lies in the hands of the people.
This understanding comes from a confluence of experiences, from historical awareness to social upheaval to personal engagement. These are experiences that children will seldom have and young people will have in abundance.
As a person engages more with the world, they learn how to perceive power and see its use in many aspects of life and society, from entertainment to law enforcement to war to interpersonal relationships.
Power is there, seeping out from individuals, but it is power that is in its gaseous form: it flows from place to place, but it does not have actual weight. It does not impose itself upon the world. This can only become power in the truest sense when more people direct their energy towards it. This is the collective will.
Photo by Josh Sorenson
The True Mandate, The People
Herein lies power: among the people. You, as an individual, have power, but it is limited. You are a part of the people, though. Your power is limited only by your collective imagination.
When you reach a certain age, you accept that the government is merely a tool for power. Its only goal is to preserve itself, and it does so without scruples. While there are governments that acknowledge the people as the source of their power, there are some who don’t. Yet, this is only a delusion that they have.
True power lies in the people. If there are no people, there is no power to exercise with and no power to exercise from. The people are the fuel, and it is high time that governments all across the world remember that.
Understand more about how citizens hold political power in Christina Trezevant McGriff’s From Small to Tall, a collection of poems that dispense advice on how to navigate the transition from child to adult. Order a copy now through this link!
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