THE ROAD TO POWER
I find the exploits of some people fascinating, and their lack of real achievement, and positions in life contradictory. It goes without saying that I am not talking about real achievers, as scientists with breakthroughs in medicine or engineering .No! I am looking at persons who are very inexperienced, rather young and whose intellect has in no way been tested. Yet these persons have achieved a prominence in the political world. The political world in all cases can exist in a democratic or autocratic environment. Human nature trumps all and the desire for power is active in any type of regime.
Kim Jong-un is the leader of North Korea. A more autocratic regime does not exist. The son and grand-son of former dictators, whose dominance gave no real benefits to the Koreans under their control.Kim is there by virtue of his father and grandfather. The leader in an autocratic country is a very vulnerable entity, and success and survival depend entirely on the loyalty of his followers. In an autocratic country survival cannot be taken for granted. They support Kim for three reasons! They are afraid of each others ambitions, cannot achieve power on their own and use his name to keep whatever power they exercise now. The system set up by humans can be corrupted by same, and it led to the execution of Kim`s uncle Jang Song-thaek who tried to wrest control from his nephew. Kim is 31 years old and his political experience is not remotely a factor in his position.
Without question my study comparing Justin Trudeau, the eldest son of our former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau and Kim of North Korea would not be to Justin`s liking. But Kim became leader of North Korea by inheritance and Justin, even though he would not like the comparison is not far behind. The chances of Justin becoming leader of the Liberal party with his life experiences would be essentially nil if his name was other than Trudeau. His inheritance from his father allowed him to live well, but frugally, as a camp counsellor, a white water river guide and a high school teacher. His experience for his present job, by no guage would be acceptable. While not exactly in the same category as Kim`s supporters who wanted to retain power, the supporters of Trudeau wanted his name to lead them to power. But in both cases “Power” is the driving force leading to the support of both men.
