The Social Construct Of Power

I've seen people become better when they have money, I've also seen people who become worse when they have money.

For the most part, money enhances and inflates the most prevalent personality a person has, making it more noticeable through bringing more of it to the foreground.

I think people change because of experiences. Experience changes people, for better or worse. And money can be a vessel for that. But in and of itself, money doesn't fundamentally change a person.

For a long time, money is often equated with power and influence. It runs the world, directing what people say and do.

From an economic perspective, it dictates the flow of resources and opportunities. businesses chase profits, governments allocate budgets based on income, and individuals make choices based on affordability. This shapes everything from what gets produced to what infrastructure gets built.

Image Source

In the social scene, it elevates social status and influence who people associate with, creating a form of hierarchy where wealth opens doors and poverty closes them.

I've observed that social status is more hackable nowadays, it easier to get famous on the Internet and have the opportunity to significantly climb the social hierarchy. In a way, fame also brings power and influence but it's less potent compared to money.

In my view, the most potent form of power and influence comes from knowledge. Because it's more in tandem with reality.

The Fluidity Of Social Contexts And Its Consequences

If money is a social construct, then the power and influence it brings is probably also a social construct and isn't rooted in objectivity(or utility).

In a way, this is good, it's temporal, fleeting and fluid. Dependent on prevailing social contexts. But what mess it can bring during changing social contexts.

Without proper knowledge, such changes are guided by self-interest and a lack of understanding of long-term consequences, which leads to unnecessary instability and missed opportunities to improve the lives of people and societies as a whole.

Money's influence isn't always malicious. A wealthy donor funding educational initiatives in underprivileged communities can be a powerful force for good.

However, as mentioned above, social contexts are fluid. Economic downturns, political shifts, even technological advancements can drastically alter the landscape.

Suddenly, those educational initiatives might be seen as promoting a certain ideology, or the technology they provide becomes obsolete. This fluidity can be weaponized by those with wealth.

Here's an example: social media platforms funded by advertising dollars can be incredibly empowering for marginalized voices. But at the same time, the same algorithms designed to maximize engagement can be exploited to spread misinformation and create echo chambers.

Image Source

Turning these platforms into a coin toss for social progress, with the outcome dependent on factors beyond their control.

In the long run, knowledge is a more potent form of power in the long run than money and fame combined.

Understanding history, economics, and critical thinking allows people to navigate these changing social contexts, perhaps, play an active part in them and hold those in power accountable.

Education is essentially the key to ensuring that money serves society as a whole, not just the privileged few.


Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.

Posted Using InLeo Alpha