The Policeman's Dilemma
I just realized that the two times I’ve been in a situation of power, I abused my power and then used it to favour myself and my friends for material benefit. The first time was when I was president of a student union body and the second time was when I was president of a choir. Both times, I mismanaged the funds that were in my possession. And yet, I (used to) think that I could do better than our leaders. I (used to) think I could be better if I was put in a position of power one day. Power they say, corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
My mom used to say that if you can’t manage the little you’re given, you won’t be able to manage the many that will be given to you too. I am starting to believe that because for the longest time, I have always thought that I’d be happier if I had more. But what is more? And does more actually make one happy if he wasn’t happy with less? But is being happy with less not being complacent? What if you can’t manage a million because it’s too small? Is that even a thing?
Every now and then, the streets of every major town of our country, as well as every intercity road, are (most of the times) illegally blocked with fraudulent checkpoints with the sole purpose of extorting money from the cab and motorbike drivers who are trying to make a living for themselves. This often happens mid-month when their government salaries have been depleted mostly due to debauchery and mismanagement. It gets me thinking about it and it makes so much sense that these “officers of the law” can permit themselves to be ostentatious with their “meager salaries” because somehow, they have an ever ready backup in case things go bad.
The Policeman’s Dilemma is therefore the conundrum a “good” person faces when he becomes an agent of the law. Does he become “bad” like the band or does he try to make the difference? But objectively speaking, is there a “good” or “bad” person? The policeman is in a dilemma because he doesn’t know if he should use force to resolve simple disputes given that his status “somehow” permits him to be violent towards civilians because after all, he is an “officer of the law” The Policeman’s Dilemma causes him to doubt before taking a bribe, not stopping him from taking it because if he doesn’t take it, someone else will. The policeman isn’t sure if he should serve the people or those corrupt politicians though he knows one is the right thing to do whilst the other is the only thing to do. So every decision comes with a bit of guilt and remorse. Every action suffers indecision and every indecision is mother to the omission that leads to the frustration of the population.
The policeman in this case is not just the one we meet in the streets or at the police stations, but every person who is in a position of power and who is often, if not always, in a position of doubt and confusion when confronted with situations that might jeopardize their dignity and integrity. The policeman is YOU, but mostly ME. It’s me, asking myself if I can do the “right” thing when I get to another position of power. It’s wanting to for once in my life, do the right thing and not the only thing. Because the little acts matter.
