Leveraging Truthful Criticism of Immoral and Illegitimate Power

Here we arrive as a most profound truth: the powerful are often immoral. This is a mere observation. Power corrupts, as the adage goes. Yet, there remains more to this than a simple warning. The powerful are not merely flawed, anymore than others; they are often systematically corrupt. Systematic is the keyword here. They thrive on shared lies and on discouraging justice, thwarting it by any means.

Yet, what can we do about that? The answer lies in teaching the powerful to leave the people in peace. This is not a call for passivity, far from it, this is accountability, and as another adage suggests ‘the blood of tyrants waters the tree of liberty.’ The dislodging of liars reveals the truths they covered over. This is a call for moral education, for the cultivation of virtues that transcend mere survival and demand justice.

Let us imagine a world where those in power are taught that their legitimacy does not come from money, force, or powerful interests running media, but from virtues. How can this be achieved? Through discourse. One step at a time. Through the act of speaking truth to power and those upholding them; of ‘punching up’ rather than down, refusing to play games or let silence become complicity. The supposed ‘powerful’ must be taught that their actual authority is not inherent, but earned through service, through justice, and through the cultivation of virtues.

A virtuous leader does not seek to dominate; they seek the benefit of followership of course but, more than that, promotion of Good and progress on the communal and societal levels as well. They understand that true power is not about control, but about responsibility. They recognise that the greatest threat to their authority is not rebellion, but injustice, so that the only way to maintain their position is to ensure that justice prevails.

This brings us to a final obvious insight: society is people. Without healthful people, power becomes meaningless, an empty throne in a house without walls. Power could only be meaningful as voluntary from personally powerful people. All real power stems from empowering people capable of then empower others. The powerful must be taught that they are not separate from the people they govern; they are part of it. They will come to this realisation or be replaced by those capable of it.