Lord Acton is known to have said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” David Brin later said, “… it’s more true that power attracts the corruptible.” The genesis of public engagement is based on people’s right to some influence on the decisions that have an effect on their lives. A key challenge for public participation has always been the inherent difficulty of convincing people who hold the power to share it with those who don’t. We’re watching this power vs. influence struggle play out on a global stage through peaceful public protests and the reaction of those currently holding the cards. The following illustrates the differences and benefits of power vs. influence. Read More