Essay Introduction

In "Power Corrupts," Admiral Ben Moreell, Chairman of the Board of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation, offers a concise and incisive examination of the corrupting influence of political power. He describes the psychological transformation of a "benevolent ruler" who begins with the intention of doing good but inevitably resorts to force to impose his will. Moreell illustrates how the appetite for power grows, leading to the creation of unnecessary jobs, the spending of public funds on grandiose projects, and the eventual inability of the ruler to distinguish between what is morally right and what is politically expedient. The essay serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of unlimited governmental authority.

Power Corrupts

by Ben Moreell

[A person with politi]cal power could very well decide to leave every person free to do as he pleases so long as he does not infringe upon the same right of every other person to do as he pleases. However, that concept appears to be utterly without reason to a person who wants to exercise political power over his fellow man, for he asks himself: "How can I 'do good' for the people if I just leave them alone?" Besides, he does not want to pass into history as a "do nothing" leader who ends up as a footnote somewhere. So he begins to pass laws that will force all other persons to conform to his ideas of what is good for them.

A Strain On Morality

That is the danger point! The more restrictions and compulsions he imposes on other persons, the greater the strain on his own morality. As his appetite for using force against people increases, he tends increasingly to surround himself with advisers who also seem to derive a peculiar pleasure from forcing others to obey their decrees. He appoints friends and supporters to easy jobs of questionable necessity. If there are not enough jobs to go around, he creates new ones. In some instances, jobs are sold to the highest bidder. The hard-earned money of those over whom he rules is loaned for questionable private endeavors or spent on grandiose public projects at home and abroad. If there is opposition, an emergency is declared or created to justify these actions.

If the benevolent ruler stays in power long enough, he eventually concludes that power and wisdom are the same thing. And as he possesses power, he must also possess wisdom. He becomes converted to the seductive thesis that election to public office endows the official with both power and wisdom. At this point, he begins to lose his ability to distinguish between what is morally right and what is politically expedient.

About the Author

Ben Moreell, former Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, as well as Chief of Civil Engineers of the Navy, is Chairman of the Board of Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation. "Power Corrupts" is extracted from a 1951 address.

Attribution

Moreell, Ben. "Power Corrupts." In Essays on Liberty, Vol. 1, 210-211. Irvington-on-Hudson, NY: The Foundation for Economic Education, Inc., 1952.