No one is truly safe when power is unchecked. This historical law has been verified in all eras. If power is not effectively checked and checked, it will inevitably lead to corruption and chaos in the end, and no individual can stay out of it. Vigilance against the loss of control of power and insisting on power restraint is the top priority of every era.
Historical Negative Textbook: When power is out of control, chaos will inevitably ensue
Ancient Chinese history is full of lessons about the chaos of the state due to the loss of control of power. The fall of almost every dynasty was accompanied by the expansion and loss of control of power. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the imperial power expanded indefinitely, leading to civil uprisings. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty and Emperor Wu Zhou of the Tang Dynasty both died because of their stubbornness. Both Song Huizong and Qianlong fell into power because of arrogance and lasciviousness.
The Empress Dowager Cixi's dictatorship led directly to the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution. These historical events show that if power gets out of control and becomes corrupt, it will inevitably lead to disasters and even dynastic changes. In recent history, dictators such as Hitler, Mussolini, and Pinochet have also demonstrated this. The greater their personal power, the greater the suffering and calamity they cause.
During World War II, Nazi Germany murdered more than 6 million Jews and other minorities. Mussolini's fascist regime led to the collapse of the Italian economy, which was eventually overthrown by a popular uprising. The dictatorship of Pinochet in Chile directly led to a coup d'état and a 17-year military dictatorship. They are all warning mankind that if power is not checked and supervised, it will lead to unimaginable suffering.
At present, some cases in China's anti-corruption struggle have also fully illustrated this point. These cases are a warning to people that if power cannot be restrained, it will inevitably lead to abuse of power, embezzlement and corruption. There are enough lessons from the past, and we must take this as a warning, guard against the slightest problem, and control and restrain power at the source.
No one is immune: all people can be victimized
When power is out of control, high-ranking officials and dignitaries cannot be left alone, and everyone may become a victim of chaos. It is not uncommon in history that many of the once high-ranking magnates retreated when turmoil came, and finally died in Huangquan.
A large number of such stories are recorded in ancient history books. Emperor Liang of the Southern Dynasty was killed by Hou Jing, and Emperor Ming of the Northern Zhou Dynasty was killed by Yuwen Hu, all of whom were once kings who were once in power but were powerless to become victims in the troubled times. During the disgrace of Jingkang, many prominent princes of the Song Dynasty also died under the butcher's knife of the Jin soldiers. The real upper echelons of power simply cannot stand alone in troubled times.
The most typical example of modern history is the French Revolution. Louis XVI was the monarch of France, but he did not escape the punishment of the revolution and was eventually guillotined. Many dignitaries of the nobility were also killed in the riots. These examples are a reminder to the elite that they should never get carried away with the momentary advantage, and that if there is real turmoil, they may well be the first to fall.
If there is still reason at the top of the power, they should be aware of the danger of losing control of power and learn from it. Because history has repeatedly proven that in the event of serious social upheaval, it is difficult for the current elite to get out of the way. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant about the importance of the need for checks and balances on power. This is not only related to the long-term peace and stability of the country, but also related to their personal life and death.
Prevent the slightest slight: Adhere to the importance of power constraints
In a situation where power can spiral out of control, each of us must be vigilant and take proactive measures to prevent it. Among them, the most important thing is to form a mechanism for checking power, so that power can operate within the scope of the law.
First, it is necessary to strengthen the independence of the judiciary. The judiciary must be independent of the executive branch and must not become a tamed instrument of power. Judges should handle every case impartially and must not bend the law for personal gain. Second, it is necessary to ensure the smooth flow of supervision by public opinion. The media are encouraged to supervise the exercise of power, and promptly expose problems when they are discovered.
Third, it is necessary to allow the people to exercise their legitimate political rights and supervise and manage those through elections and recalls. Fourth, all departments should also strengthen self-restraint and supervision, and form a mechanism of checks and balances of power, instead of competing with each other. If our society can form a mechanism of power checks, it is unlikely that the loss of control of any one individual or department will shake the foundations of the whole society.
This requires the awakening of every citizen, because the danger of power getting out of control will eventually hurt everyone. The bitter lessons of history are a wake-up call for each of us, and it also reminds us of the importance of preventing the expansion of power. Only in this way can our society develop healthily and steadily.
Every one of us citizens must be vigilant against power and defend the rule of law. We must dare to report corrupt phenomena and supervise and expose illegal acts. Let the sunlight shine into the dark corners of power, so that there is nothing to hide. The law also needs to protect the safety of bona fide whistleblowers and keep power running above board. Today, China is in the historical process of comprehensively governing the country according to law and building a society ruled by law.
Put forward the concept of the rule of law that "power is used by the people and the rule of law is trusted by the people". It requires us to uphold the rule of law and let all power run in the sun. Only in this way can the country be stable and the people live and work in peace and contentment. It is the duty of every citizen to be vigilant and prevent the uncontrolled abuse of power. Let us work together to safeguard the rule of law as a precious asset and never allow the tragedy of history to happen again.
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