I have a problem with authority.

It's existential.

I have a problem…with authority.

I do acknowledge power (respect is another matter, altogether). They are fundamentally different. In this day and age of word-wrangling and the ubiquitous redefining of words (in an effort to twist meanings and trick brains), I think it is most appropriate to clarify what I mean when I say “authority”.

First, I have to admit that it doesn’t really exist. There is no legitimate authority over your being outside of god, the spirit, the universe, the creator or whatever place-holder you use to describe the incomprehensible bringer of existence (even if it’s NOTHING). You cannot be responsible for bringing yourself into being. And neither are your parents, for they did not create themselves either, nor their parents etc. Seriously, you could string this all the way back to simple molecular matter but it wouldn’t change that fact.

Authority is simply a little game of power, assumed power. It could be power you willingly (or not so willingly) relinquished or power you didn’t have to begin with, so someone, or some entity with more, decided you were worth coercing (or worse). But the word “authority”in common parlance has this tinge of “a right”, as in “the government has the right to blah blah blah…”. No, they don’t. They might have the power to do x, y and z (and damn z is the worst of the worst) but they have no right, existentially speaking. They just have the power.

Now don’t get me wrong. Rules are fine. There are rules to games and all sorts of interactions between us lovely folks (and even the not so lovely folks). To the extent we can agree on them (topic for another post) they can be negotiated for their constraints/benefit ratios. I’m quite willing to trade certain things for others (to the degree that’s possible in an existential time/place/society that is beyond the power of my individual being). BUT generally that trade/trade-off between people isn’t permanent. Renegotiation is always an option. After all, it is meant to be a voluntary existential exchange. Unless of course, you’re an authoritarian.

If I hand over something (a freedom, perhaps) or accept some restriction or rules, I expect something in return (both practically and “energetically” speaking). A good manager in a job situation is a handy example of this. If they’re upfront about the deal (the job, its requirements etc..) and if you play the game (voluntarily, of course) it is fine to abdicate a degree of power/responsibility or defer it to someone else. It allows you to focus on your task (sweeping can be very ZEN) and get paid. It’s a voluntary trade-off. It’s nice if you can find such a person (interestingly they don’t have to be overly nice, just forthright and ethical) but it’s a rarer than it could be.

But by god, it’s even rarer for larger scale entities. Impossible even. Governments, anyone?

Now I’d be remiss not to bring up the use of the word authority when it’s used to describe “expertise”. For instance, doctors and medical experts are continuously held up as “authority figures” as in “Dr. Winkelstein, a leading authority on Covid-19, says everyone should blah blah blah.” Of course, good ol’ Winkelstein might have some expertise but that doesn’t mean he has authority over others (public officials will obviously disagree with that assessment as their expertise always fits their narrative. I know, it’s uncanny). Expertise in knowledge or a skill is clearly something worth pursuing (for most) but, for heaven’s sake, it doesn’t grant you authority over others. It simply makes you worthy of an advisory position (and even then, you might consider offering advice without being a royal prick about it). Further still, your field of expertise is likely so narrow that your advice might be well worth ignoring in light of other considerations (e.g. lockdowns to stop sars cov2 deaths→economic collapse→thousands jobless, businesses gone, families destitute → increased suicide, despair, ill health etc….was it worth it? To whom?).

On that last subject I’m reminded of this twisted tale. Pardon my paraphrasing.

“The villagers cowered in the town hall for months and months as the monstrous bear roamed in their nearby forest. They would not forage nor hunt for the big bear might get them. So there they waited and waited, nearing starvation until one day a solitary villager stood up with his last strength and said ‘Oh f$%k it! I’m starving.’ He left the safety of the village and caught himself a rabbit. It was so delicious! Then the horrible bear caught him and promptly ate him. The bear was, however, very grateful for the meal and the villager’s freed spirit happy it could oblige. When the rest of the villagers realized he had been eaten they stayed inside until they had all starved miserably to an agonizing death. But the bear had long since gone.”

I digress.

Back to my point…

Expertise does not equal authority.

Power does not equal authority.

Power is simply power. You have what you have. It’s how you use it that matters.

Authority is, however, the assumption of power.

It’s largely unearned and non-consensual.

So yeah, you’re damn right.

I have a problem with authority.