Should any government ever be more powerful than its people?

[Just Me]

When/if a government is oppressive, whether by muscle or psychological manipulation, against its people,....

,...is that use of power,...a bad thing?

[itzamirakul]

1. In OUR form of government...

the PEOPLE ARE the government...or so I was always taught.

Now, it appears that America has moved to the place where corporations, big business, the extremely wealthy and special interest groups who are well-connected are the government and the people are now just pawns for the rightwing to move around at will.

[LynnTheDem]

2. Power corrupts.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Selteri]

3. No

power over the people inevitably leads to rampant corruption.

[Just Me]

4. Is our government exercising power OVER US?

How does any American cope with that fact?

My answer is that most Americans "trust" their governance to serve on their behalf,...whether mistakenly or out of ignorance or otherwise.

Whaddya' think? :bounce.

[undergroundpanther]

5. governments that give bullies power abuse people

For any government to be sane since it's full of abusers and narcissists (the kind of people who seek power to abuse it(usually these kind of people who make politics an ego and popularity game they run on image,charisma and P.R.)Politicans are basically smart criminals..but with a few good people thrown in hoping to change things.The people need to dominate their government and keep it leashed to their service to keep it from becoming a secretive exploiting,self serving bully clique.All government should be POLICED by the people themselves and subjected to them.If the people don't want war don't participate then the government will have no war. Simple.Bush ain't gonna go get his ass shot off,so there will be no war if no citizen volunteers is bribed or coerced into fighting it for the cowardly greedy bully politicians in government.
If the people don't bother to get nosy,demand to be heard, get intrusive,expose lies secrets intrigue and scam, and be pressuring enough to appear threatening enough to the politicians well being and security.. to do his job to keep the government subjected to the people's collective will...then government(or corporation) will be useful to us. If the people forget freedom requires vigilance and they slack off and let the government control their affairs and let the government lead the people..Than we have the kind of mess we have now.
Bush is no king. But the people have LET him become one for refusing to lead themselves and look after their own well being and the well being of their neighbors.Too many are distracted,afraid,compromised,busy aping the rich bowing to the boss and sucking the ass above them and standing by to get the courage to stand up against the corruption in government..Thuis the people APPEAR powerless and the thieves think they have won.

[porphyrian]

6. They all are.

Who cares if they should be?

[Lone Pawn]

7. Government that does not maintain monopoly of power

is unstable, and will certainly be supplanted by government that does.