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The Un-Comfort Zone II by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. Fear vs. Power America’s police departments are in- creasing in size and becoming militarized, which is ironic because crime has been on a 20-year decline. America’s police are also becoming more aggressive and bully-like. All of this police brutality is a symp- tom of a greater problem. My concern is with those who aspire jobs with built-in power and prest ige. I ’m concerned because I believe the more power an office holds, the more ruthless - that is, lacking in empathy - the people are who are attract- ed to it. I’m only referring to government jobs and political offices because those positions hold a monopoly on legal force. I am con- cerned about what may be the motivation behind the desire to hold these jobs. There are many motivations tempt- ing us daily: love, hunger, sex, comfort, health, status, and so on. However, the top motivator is fear. It is such a strong driver of our behavior it may also form the basis for every other motivator in our lives. Fear is a prime motivator because it is rooted in our childhood experiences, and it moves us subconsciously. David Richo, author of When Love Meets Fear states, “When we notice a connection between our present fears and their origins in early life, we are find- ing out how much of our identity is designed by fear.” I believe there is a correlation be- tween fear and the amount of power people seek. An individual’s motivation for power is to acquire control over his environment. A certain amount of controlling behavior is a healthy, natural survival instinct; but after a point it becomes harmful. When this happens, normal survival is no longer the motivator. Underlying the quest for power is fear, and the desire for power is to eliminate fear. The more fearful a person is, the more control over their environment they believe they need to feel safe. When they seek out public office, this becomes a problem because those who use power to assuage their own fear, also use fear against others to bolster and maintain their power. Merriam-Webster offers this defini- tion of power: “possession of control, authority, or influence over others.” The average person understands it must be earned. Known as “referent power”, it is the ability of an individual to attract fol- lowers and build loyalty through charis- ma, leadership, and management skills. This power, and the prestige that goes with it, is only as good as an individual’s honor and reputation allow. In contrast, “legitimate power” or “positional power” is formal authority del- egated to the holder of the office or posi- tion. This is the type of power managers have within a business enterprise, and it is the type of power granted to an agent of the government. Subordinates and citi- zens must obey the office holders regardless of whether the power is earned or not. Power itself is not evil; like money, it is indifferent and unbiased in its useful- ness to the person who possesses it. It does not make the possessor evil; it is the possessor who uses it in evil ways. In her book Freedom from Fear , Nobel Peace Prize winner and Burmese opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi said, “It is not power that corrupts, but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it.” Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler were raised by brutal parents who frequently beat them. They grew up living in daily fear. Both of them went on to become dictators who maintained complete control over their peo- ple through the use fear-inducing terror. The War on Drugs and the War on Terror are turning the U.S. into a police state. The founders of the U.S. had ex- perienced abuse of power and worked to institutionally destroy power by reducing it to a minimum. They did this so the peo- ple would be free to pursue their happi- ness. Unfortunately, over the years, this freedom has been chipped away by peo- ple who are motivated by power. I’m not saying al l agents of government are attracted to power, or abused by their parents. Some may have grown up feel- ing alienated or inadequate. They may not have been part of the in-crowd at school, or may have been bul l ied or ostracized. Having the power of their office makes them feel secure. Everyone wants to be free of fear. It is prosperity, however, which is most like- ly to make people feel secure. Simply having the opportunity to achieve suc- cess makes people less fearful. Political and social freedom offer people a safe place to create their own fortune. Even if they are unsuccessful, most appreciate having the unfettered opportunity, and take responsibility for the effort they made. I would like to see an America that once again offers freedom of opportunity, so our national fear and the growing police state can be abated. Let’s return to the era when Andy of Mayberry repre- sented America’s police! Robert Robert is a motivational speaker and humorist. He works with compa- nies that want to be more competitive and with people who want to think like innovators. For more information on Robert’s programs, visit www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com or contact him via e-mail at admin@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 40 MAY 2013 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® .7 1"6'.1%25*++& ).-& "7 +.6$&-3&1 +../ /4,/ ,.%4+&2 "1& "5"*+ "#+& '.1 #.3) 1&2*%&-3*"+ "-% $.,,&1$*"+ (1.4-% +../ )&"3*-( "-% $..+*-( 2823&,2 .,/"3*#+& 6*3) 3)&2& /4,/2 14-%'.2 !* +. +.6$&-3&12 $"- #& $.- '*(41&% 6*3) .1 /4,/ 4-*32 3. ,"3$) %*''&1&-3 +."% 1&04*1&,&-32 1.%4$32 *-$+4%& +.6$&-3&12 &.3)&1,"+ +.2&% ../ *33*-(2 &/+"$&,&-3 4,/2 .2& *32 "-% $$&22.1*&2 "1*"#+& /&&% 4,/2 • Simple installation • Trouble-free operation For more information call: (270) 786-3010 or visit us online: www.geothermalsupply.com Atlantis Vault