h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The Paradox of Power: The Paradox of power states that whoever has the most power has no need to use it, and whoever has the least, the most need. If you have the most power, then you can scare people into submission. If You don't have the power, you can't. If you have the least power, and you can keep up an illusion of power, then you win. If you have power, You're set. No-one can stand against the power, but the power can stand against anyone. The interesting part comes when the illusions band together and convince the power to step down. And now who has the power? The weaklings. And who has the illusion? The weaklings. And what does Mr. Buff have? Squat, because he's submitted to the illusion and given them the power.

A most interesting and astute observation. Have you ever noticed in movies that the head honchos, after having clawed their way to the top and probably having killed most of the competition on the way, end up as wimps most of the time? There's usually a lot of people in the organization who are unhappy with the leadership, but they won't lift a finger against him, simply because he's cultivated this god-like aura. Like the slashers in the horror movies... I find myself thinking "Hello? There's about 14 of you 'helpless' victims, and one guy with a knife. You could take him down easily!" Oh well... I guess I never was one for illusions.

The illusion is the strength of numbers. But who has the knife?

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