Minimum Security Comic Strip, November 28, 2012 on GoComics.com

Definition of power

What is the exercise of power? It is the imposition of will. It is the ability to set the terms of how society functions. Power can be exerted to either maintain or change the current social relations, economic activity, the ways we meet our needs and even defining what those needs are.

The content of this, the result of the exercise of power, is shaped by a combination of the consciousness and material interests of those doing it. If they are capitalists, their power allows them to extract surplus value from the exploitation of labor during the production of commodities from raw materials. Their power allows them to expand their method of accumulation, to solidify their class position, and on an individual level, to buy diamonds, mansions and fancy shoes for themselves. If the currently dominated classes and peoples are ever able to exercise sufficient power to overcome the dominators, then this will allow us to organize society on a different foundation: fairness and sustainability.

Ms. Ima said, 6 months ago

Key words are ‘fairness and sustainability’. Both subjective terms. Fair is different to everyone. Is it fair to be born into or be adopted by a rich family when there are kids who’s daddy is in prison for life? Is it fair that someone works hard, takes risks, succeeds in business in producing goods people want and will buy that provides jobs? Is it fair that it takes 6 numbers to win the powerball? Is it fair a person stays out of debt and is responsible for his life when so many people are a quarter million dollars in debt or more for student loans and credit cards? Is it fair that some people find peace in religion when others use it as an excuse to kill? What is ‘fair’?
Should America give it’s money in the name of ‘global warming’ to ‘poor’ countries run by fascist dictators who starve their people? Would that provide a sustainability? Not to Americans but it would to keep the dictators in power and the poor starving.
Capitalism isn’t perfect but it’s the best system that man has come up with.

timrinaldo said, 6 months ago

Ima 1, Stephanie 0

rmacprivate said, 6 months ago

@Stephanie McMillan

Seems to me that your foundation of fairness and sustainability will occur after a lot of blood shed. How else will those classes exercise sufficient power to make the new foundation? Not that I have any qualms about blood letting in these circumstances. I’ve always thought that dueling would go a long ways to keeping everybody a little more reasonable. With dueling the concept of taking responsibility for your actions becomes much more than just a quaint idea.

moderateisntleft said, 6 months ago

@rmacprivate

The problem with revolutions are that someone is still left in power. And that person is the one with the biggest gun. Anarchy is a pipe dream.

Comic Minister said, 6 months ago

Your weapons of course.

Radish said, 6 months ago

Stephanie 1,000,000
Ima 0

Night-Gaunt49 said, 6 months ago

Power—control, exercising of force. Whether through money, social pressure, political pressure, financial pressure and physical force. We the People only have social pressure left since our political power is all too often negated by the wealthy and their financial control of their employees in office.

omwae said, 6 months ago

..hahah – the army we’ve been ammassing on the dark side of……

U-ranus!!

Harleyquinn said, 6 months ago

Oh no profits.
yawn,
let us just tax them, that will show them to be better then us.

Ms. Ima said, 6 months ago

My mom lives on social security every month. My nephew gets disability SSI because of birth defects. How does the new world order of revolutionists plan to keep paying them their benefits, or are they lined up against the wall and shot? Will that help sustain the world?

Ms. Ima said, 6 months ago

@

I would be more impressed if you could spell fascist.