This post was written as a contribution to "Blog Action Day" - an initiative to utilize the political power of blogs for the betterment of mankind.
There is something only We can do; create an institution. Leaders may think that they smith an institution to the shape of their liking - but this isn't even marginally true. An institution always consists of the common will and understanding of those affiliated with it. This is the consequence of the social ontology laid out by the philosopher of mind, language and society; John Searle.
The logic is thus: You take one dash of language, one dash of communal belief and the ability to remember, and then build society from bottom up saying things like "When I raise this flag, I claim this land for England - the land under the feet of the english". And with that declaration, a new piece of society is formed. But only if people believe and act on the words of the declarer. This is a gross simplification of a theory with great "depth of intention" - his theory in effect runs right through society and deep into the human skull - nearly to the level of axons and dendrites. But the message is clear - one man (or woman) might do the declaration, and if people take notice a new institution is born.
When we talk about institutions this way, it is not immediately clear how this word applies to our everyday understanding of the word "institution" - such as hospitals and corporations. And you are right to doubt - such huge institutions are created by numerous utterances of the type explained above: The nurse yelling for help, the patient taking his medicine, the director asking for his schedule, all are actions are in some small part embedded in a network of expectations which support or create the ideas we base reality upon - and through countless interactions that hospital is built. The nurse does not know what the director does and vice versa - but as far as they travel within this chaotic and systematic web of ideas, they encounter and create the world around them.
It is in the power of we to create society. If we can envision it, if we can state it - and get people to believe in it - then we can make society the same way programmers make software. Except in the case of society; immediately after you have let it go - it will come alive and take on a form of a greater kind than was in your head.
It is its your own power to be aware of these mechanisms; not just dimly aware of it, like everyone are, but acutely; so that you become aware that you insert ideas into other peoples mind, that you can enforce, create or break rules, and see through attempts to control you. And so, as any mentor would say to their newly found superhero: Use this power only for good!
The power of you becomes the power of we - and if you made a good enough effort - that we might go on to do good. Examples of good and bad institutions are rife in history. Some may seem neutral - but their merits can only be judged, de facto, by an individual. Let's have a closer look at a possible relationship between the power of we and an institution.
There is no center in an institution. Institutions are, in addition to the actions of people, ruled by their necessity to adapt to forces outside their control - be it weather, economy or political opinion. Organisations that are set up to handle these challenges, and the best aren't necessarily best adapted to take care of it's employees. One will do well to remember this. Limited- liability companies are set up to handle economic realities: They will have stakeholders which constitute a board, the board will elect a leader and that leader will serve the stakeholders. Stakeholders are too far removed from the employees to empathise with them - and judge success by the only measure readily available to them; the surplus of money generated by the company. The leader is judged by his ability to make money, not by how well he makes employees feel. So the natural tendency of such companies will be to recruit leaders that make more money, often at the cost of employees. (Cutting salaries in an economic crisis is popular)
It is when this happens that the power of we can make itself be felt. If employees understand this logic, they may unite to sanction corporations, so that the good treatment of employees will be more economical than poor treatment. If this happens, the welfare of the employee, and the welfare of the company align - and both can benefit from a compassionate leader.
The way to do this is traditionally to form workers unions with enough power to go on strike, and thus to make a wiggle- room in negotiations with the leadership. This is an example of how the power of we can create powerful institutions to change things for the better.
We must remember that no power can be given to anyone without institutions - save for the power of personal violence. It was the first task of the state to protect the individual from violence - but states have now far exceeded those expectations. Now states are counted upon to do good by the masses. It is within the power of We, the electorate, We - the citizens, We - men men and women of conscience to supervise this power - and to speak up when it is used in the service of personal gains, or of evil.
Finally, the power of We is also personal. Coming together as a family is one of the most powerful ways to create security for one another. And when family fails, one should hopefully be able to put ones trust into the hands of a friend. Because together sorrows are divided in half - and joys are doubled.
