The Greater The Power The More Dangerous The Abuse. You can find Previous Year Argumentative Essay Topics asked in ICSE board exams.
Argumentative Essay Topic – The Greater The Power The More Dangerous The Abuse
Introduction:
The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse
- Examples from history of Hitler and Idi Amin
- More in an autocratic system of government
- Need for proper check and balance by autonomous investigating agencies and dynamic judiciary
- Free press plays an important role in highlighting abuse
Conclusion:
Much truth in, the above statement; Need for effective check and balance
“The greater the power the more dangerous the abuse”, said Edmund Burke. It sums up what power can do to normal mortals. The feeling of power and authority works like an intoxicant on people. It makes them arrogant, proud, and audacious. They feel that they can get away with almost anything. In the absence of any accountability it leads to corruption.
There are many instances from history where good men once bestowed with absolute power become autocratic and corrupt, bringing their country to ruins. We have the example of Adolf Hitler, who was an epitome of a patriot, but no sooner did he become Germany’s Fuehrer, he let loose the scourge of war, which culminated into the Second World War. The war crimes perpetuated against Jews in his regime, shall forever be a blot on the history of mankind. In India too we had the Rajas and Maharajas who enjoyed absolute power over their subjects, which made them corrupt and immoral.
Such people usually are known to thrive more in an autocratic, or oligarchy system, where the head of the state has unbridled power. The abuse of power by dictators has led to general dissatisfaction and bloody revolutions in their country. This was witnessed in the Philippines and Uganda, where the government of Presidents Marcos and Idi Amin were overthrown.
Since power is susceptible to abuse, there is need for a proper check and balance on people occupying positions of power and authority. This calls for setting up autonomous institutions, investigating agencies and a fair and dynamic judicial system, to bring the defaulters to book. Our present laws need to be made more stringent, so that corrupt officials are indicted and imprisoned. This would be an effective deterrent to others for not harbouring dishonest intensions.
A free press in a democracy also helps in highlighting the misuse of power. It acts like a watchdog keeping a close watch on the working of the government and its officials. There is therefore, need to encourage free and impartial reporting to prevent abuse of power.
Undoubtedly, there is much truth in the statement ‘the greater the power the more dangerous the abuse’. To prevent misuse of power there is a need for a proper system to ensure accountability, with effective checks and balances. People in authority should be adequately compensated, so that they do not adopt corrupt practices and exercise power without fear and favour. In the absence of these measures the words of Lord Aston,“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely,” would continue to haunt us.
Assignments
- Corruption in public life
- “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power tends to corrupt absolutely”. Do you agree?