Representative

Figure 1. Power corruption cycle paradox

It is well documented that power corrupts. People often start with good intentions but end up swayed by the lure of self gain provided by big industry and bad science.

This is nothing new, Lord Acton in 1857 said “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority." Paradoxically those that are aware of the corrupting nature of power (Figure 1) often run to be a representative on this basis only for them to prove themselves right when they get into power.

This as a problem in human nature. We cannot get rid of representatives so we should fix this problem before it starts. By enforcing complete transparency of those given the privilege of power these issues might be avoided.

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