Power corrupts

Most people think that the title of this post is the entire saying.  You know, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” “A stitch in time saves nine,” and, oh yes, “Power corrupts.”  In fact, what Lord Acton said was much more important than merely noting that an aggregation of power tends to bring with it the risk of corruption.  What he actually said was “”Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”  I couldn’t help but think of Acton’s aphorism when I read this paragraph from the British Times:

A COMEDIAN who had a walk-on part in the Rutles film spoof of the Beatles is poised to deliver a 60-seat super-majority to the Democrats in the Senate as President Barack Obama consolidates his grip on the levers of power.

It’s not just that Obama has a majority.  It’s that he has a super-majority.  This last should frighten as all.  Here is a man about whom we know very little, who has already proven himself to be duplicitous, whose agenda is far to the Left of what he promised — and who will have no controls placed upon him.

Personality is destiny.  While a humble person freed of controls might try to temper his desires, our narcissist in chief will let nothing — and, in fact, nothing will be there to — stand in his way.

I shudder.