Gillette Occam

If Gillette came up with a new model called 'Ockham'. How many blades would it have?

Byzantine General's are regularly faced with questions pertaining to constructing social contracts and defining the 'greater good' to promote self-interest while maintaining the illusion of assured democratic governance. Their tolerance is based on the commitment to justice spliced with Faustian deals where power tends to invariably shield those to whom the corridors of power are accessible.

The moral ambiguity of the social fabric let's us progress through life without any grounding principles . Shamelessness is the binding contract to which humanity subscribes itself. How does someone refusing to be tied down to an ideological boot camp exercise personal power. How does one exercise personal power when dealing with gross negligence, engineering incompetence, environment issues and sexual aggression. When attrocities are rationalized in the name of truth, justice and freedom how powerful are we. How do we as the human race rationalize statements like "Every civilization finds it necessary to negotiate compromises with its own values. (Golda Meir, according to Spielberg)" as they exercise their personal power.

A friend of mine has an interesting outlook on this predicament. She tells me,"Just remember the concept "leadership is creating a space for the other to sense their power" and everything else seems to fall into place." She proposes blending authenticity with ethics and moral development, empowerment and possibility.

How do those shrouded in a veil of ignorance practise this craft of empowerment? How do marginalised folk break the shackles? When interests are purely monetary and liberty is a pipe dream refered to in public documents stored away along with the 'notwithstanding clause' which makes it worthless anyway.

When those in the upper echelons of power cook up plans to come up with the highest pay off for the worst outcome, does ethical decision making stick it's head in the ground. (If Gillette came up with a new model called 'Ockham'. How many blades would it have?) When and why do people lose the desire to understand others?

What happens if I am wearing my "V for Vendetta" Glasses and have this 'vengence view' of morality. When the fabric of society has lost the capacity to cultivate in others the capacity to care how does personal power find its place?

And like Grissom said,"A moral compass can only point you in the right direction. It can't make you go there."