Why do men in power behave so poorly? Updated due to recent events...
We just checked out of a Manhattan hotel which was just across from the Sofitel Hotel. I commented that it looked like a nice place to stay. Little did I know the horrors that were reportedly going on in there with Dominique Strauss-Kahn. Then of course the story about Arnold Schwarzenegger broke yesterday.
Is it me or does it seem like men in positions of power and authority behave worse than the rest of the population? It seems to be a rather common theme in the news in recent years. The fact that something "allegedly" horrible took place directly across the street from where I was sleeping sent shivers up my spine.
I'm interested in your thoughts!
It is now July and almost two months later. In an effort to be fair, here is an update on the case which does not paint a pretty picture of DSK's accuser. I guess we still don't know what really happened, but I'm thinking that maybe the title should be changed to "Why do people behave so poorly?"Rape and physical assault is one of the worst crimes. However, attacking a man's character and destroying someone's life for personal gain is horrible as well.
33 Answers
I believe that there are a few people, men and women, who behave badly regardless of where they are. People in power have more visibility, that's all.
What Strauss-Kahn is accused of doing is a common occurrence everywhere, every single day. So maybe this one woman got attacked, and one attacker is going to receive justice - maybe. What about the over 1100 women that reportedly get raped in Congo daily?
What about our friend, the mother of my son's best friend at school, who got brutally raped and cut in her own home, by a complete stranger? A stranger that then proceeded to walk out nonchalantly, secure in the knowledge that nobody would try to stop him....
Most of my female friends and acquaintances have suffered some sort of sexual attack. At the very least all of them have suffered some form of sexual harassment.
Yes, power does have a way of bending the spirit of a lot of people. But sexual crimes happen all the time, all over, regardless of how publicly powerful the attacker is. Maybe subjugating a weaker person does give some sensation of power to the perpetrator - but such a sick, distorted, petty, and destructive power!
El poder corrompes corrompe y poder absoluto corrumpes corrumpe absolumente.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. A popular aphorism.
In my view based on experience and observation of life power tends to make (very )insecure people act irrationally and gives many people an over-inflated view of their own self-importance so much so that they look down on others with a sense of superiority and sometimes think that either their positions of power and influence, their money or both make them somehwt untouchable...and immune from prosecution so that the justice system cannot touch them!
This problem is intensified when the person in power is a dictator, for instance Gadaffi or the late departed Sadam Hussain supported by a handpicked team of (usually) men who would appear to be telling them what they want to hear.
The desire to control events and people would seem to drive these people, in addition to the luxury and status that are attached to great power and influence.
What I find incomprehensible is how people in other poor countries, like African or South American states can rise from poverty and positions of power only to forget the other people who remain trapped in their poverty and they go on to live in luxury and extravagance at the expense of other starving people in. their country The greed and selfishness of humans has to be seen to be believed. The leaders are enjoying large amounts of food and drink many cars, wives and otehr priveleges while caring little or nothing for the starving millions in their own country
Corruption stinks! 
There are, or appear to be, some exceptions such as the previous Brazilian president who rose up from poverty as a shoeshine boy on the streets did seem to improve the policing on the streets and in the favelas.if a report that I read was true.
All this brings back to me the poinant and powerful words of George Orwell in Animal Farm, which in my view could be applied to every world political system devised my man whether communism, capitalism, liberalism ,or socialism or any other ''ism'' because of the inherent flaw in human thinking when captivated by a desire for power! ''All men are equal but some are more equal than others!'' My response to this is why...why should some people arrogantly think themselves superior to others?
What gets me is - where is the "innocent until proven guilty" in American law?
I have been appalled by the media coverage of Strauss-Kahn. It stinks !
Because they can. . .it also has to do with the ego and greed necessary to attain those positions, and the accompanying sense of entitlement.
Of course it's the powerful men who are to blame. Preying on these young innocent young females. I mean non of these women are throwing themselves at these famous people, or are they? Monica Lewinsky kept that dress for ages with you know what on it. All the women I know would either have flung it or at least had it cleaned at the earliest opportunity.
Come on everybody, it takes two to dance and I say dance because this is a family forum, hehe.
Throughout history men have lost their lives or had them ruined by false accusations of rape - and still happens today.
I want to see "proof" before I make up my mind.
I would like to think that all people are responsible for their actions rather they are in power or not in power. In this case, I might have to agree with others that he thought he was above the law and could do what you wanted because he could. This is a shame and I think people need to think about their actions and how it will affect others. 
Having been on more than one jury in the US, I would say that the people eventually seated on the jury tend to take the proceedings very seriously and do try to maintain the attitude of innocent until proven guilty. In one first degree murder with special circumstances case I was the 64th juror put in the box and the last one seated--there is a great effort put into excluding predjuced jurors. I think everybody was very fair minded about that case, as with other cases I have sat on.
It is certainly not a trial by a jury of your peers, because that would mean a jury of people who have been accused of swerious crimes, and often have a long criminal history. For some reason, these people are adept at avoiding jury duty.
The media have a more inflated view of their own importance than even the criminally, corporately (oops) and politically powerful. What they say about the outcome of a trial will probably have as much effect as the all out assault on McCain by the Republican propaganda networks before the last election. . .of course that doesn't mean the Limbaugh isn't still the de facto head of the party.
The Dominique Strauss-Kahn event proves that the rich and powerful are not always guilty simply because they are rich and powerful.
Oh! You really expect people who are famous, celebrated, well-known, objects of the media to behave better than the rest of us? If you feel that indulging in sexual escapades is common to such well-known persons as opposed to most people, well... I admire your faith in human-kind. I really do not care about their private lives so long as they do not abuse children, dogs or old folks, or actually break the law. I do not find this titillating (or even interesting). It annoys me to see it on every newscast, tabloid, etc. Surely there are more significant things to consider. 
The fact that rich and powerful men think that they are entitled to anything they want (most of all women) is nothing new. What astounds me to no end is that these guys, who have so much to lose, (half their fortunes, their careers, good names, etc.) are so careless and commit these acts (I'm think here or Arnold) without, ummm, protecting themselves. Really? They don't know how babies are made? 
Mel Gibson was guilty of this too.
Further to my original answer and just to clarify where I stand with what I consider to be one of the worst of all crimes, mainly because rape can destroy lives. If Mr Dominique Strauss-Kahn is found guilty then he deserves to be strung up.
Eddy said:
I mean non of these women are throwing themselves at these famous people, or are they?
I totally agree Eddy, as mentioned in my comments above. My husband actually said the same thing to me last night. In the Schwarzenegger case I can't understand how the woman involved could not only betray her employee like this, but also continue to work for over a decade and bring her son to work with her.
Of course, I don't know all of the details so I don't want to be too harsh on this woman. However, I am fully aware that since the beginning of time that where there is a "David" there is always the possibility of a "Bathsheba"; where there is a Samson, Delilah is just around the corner. 
What gets me is - where is the "innocent until proven guilty" in American law?
I have been appalled by the media coverage of Strauss-Kahn. It stinks !
Ian I am all with you on that...it certainly stinks.
Why does everybody think it is true? why should this man attack a maid? 
Sounds like utter nonsense to me.
