2. Power (definition)

NOTE: if you’re new to Ground-Up Governance, or are finding anything a bit strange or confusing, you might want to START HERE.

Power is the ability to make other people do things. People get power in all kinds of different ways. Some people have power just because they’re really interesting. When you’re the coolest, smartest, most fun person at a party, you can ask a stranger to get you a drink or put on your favourite song… and they probably would. They might even be EXCITED to do it because they REEAAALLLY want you to like them. Just like it probably makes you happy to do nice things for the cool, smart, and fun people you know. That’s power.

So why are authority and power different? Well, politicians and police officers have authority because the law says they do. Journalists and professors have authority because they are usually smart and work for places that have a reputation and influence, plus maybe they’ve written something in the past that you liked a lot. Doctors and nuclear scientists have authority because they know a lot about something you don’t, and all that stuff they know might even save your life! But that doesn’t mean they have power. Just think of the number of times you did something different from what a politician wanted you to do...

Power is way more complicated than authority. It’s harder to get, just as hard to keep, and has a bigger impact on the world.