Power Within Power
A world of systems designed to keep people in unjust and unequal positions is held in place by several interrelated expressions of power, such as political power, economic power, physical force, and ideological power. Thus, we can say power is defined as a possession of control, authority, or influence over others. In terms of the power of dominant groups over subordinate groups, we define power as the domination of one group of people over another in all important aspects of life. Power inequities have been in existence throughout the history of humanity, and the ways of manifestation evolved from extreme overt oppression to subtle, covert oppression. The three major forms of power as they relate to inequality are wealth, knowledge, and social life.
Wealth always provided power. However, the power of wealth has increased in modern times, where wealth has become the most basic source of influence. The disparity between rich and poor has increasingly widened as most of the wealth passed to corporate control. Opposing the values of an economic system that subordinates persons to profit. Wealth in and of itself is not evil as it has the power to better human life, but it often leads to the oppression of the poor. Even in the initial stages of the universe, there has always been a division between the rich and the poor, with the rich yielding control over the poor. The power of wealth is substantial and essential in today's society, but when used improperly, it can cause corruption and chaos. For example, Hitler's reign in 1930-1945 was the worst 15 years to have even been set in any time period. Hitler was able to take control of the country Germany with his power and ability to manipulate its people. At the time, everyone would have considered him the most powerful man of that era, not because he had a whole army at his command but for the considerable amount of wealth and insane mindset he had. Power is not only used as a negative term, as most would associate it with the Hitler example. On the other hand, Mr. Gates is the wealthiest man on the planet and owns an enormous number of charitable programs. In this context, power is used with a positive connotation. Bill Gates has his own foundation called the Bill and Melinda Foundation which aims to improve the lives of the poor and feed the hungry. Power has the ability to change the world in many directions, for better or worse; it only matters how you use it.
The most commonly used phrase is knowledge is power and power...
