=== ANCHOR POEM ===
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────
 I don't want power, I want *control*, over my own life at least, and at most
 whatever I am suited to designing.
 
 And in order to prevent control from becoming power, it must not only be
 decentralized and distributed amongst all who are impacted by it, said control
 must also be paired with a burden of responsibility.
 
 There must be no malice in judgement, no fear in foresight, no hatred in
 organizing. This is the responsibility of those who would hold unnatural power
 over others - the kind that are bourne on the contracts and procedures of
 institution.
 
 If the powerful do not seek to relinquish it, then perhaps they do no deserve
 it. And yet a nation of Cincinnatuses would surely fall to weakness, as the
 strength that they covet is replaced by whoever they can get to fill the role.
 Not ideal.
 
 Instead, a human should *revel* in their strength. The will to power is the
 will to passion, and passion is intrinsically human.
 
 However, power corrupts, and all humans should seek to avoid corruption, or at
 least to keep it at bay. To do so, a person must consider their impulses and
 listen to the words of the unspoken for. Only then may they overcome the
 perils of control without reason.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────┘

=== SIMILARITY RANKED ===

--- #1 fediverse/3962 ---
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────┐
 ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐                                      │
 │ CW: re: Thoughts// anarchist //whatever │                                      │
 └─────────────────────────────────────────┘                                      │
 @user-1298                                                                       │
 hehe true.                                                                       │
 if you consent, then it's just a social structure.                               │
 there are, however, reasons when power is justified. Hence why I don't believe   │
 that power itself should be dismantled, and what few "power structures" remain   │
 should be continuously justified.                                                │
 For example, how do you prevent people from harming others? "Your rights end     │
 where another's begin" but, like, how do you stop people who toe the line and    │
 spit over the edge?                                                              │
 There must be power applied to those who harm, and they surely do not consent    │
 to being curtailed, so therefore power must be wielded by someone. And because   │
 power corrupts the one who wields it, it is inevitable that someone creates      │
 harm.                                                                            │
 ... I just re-invented the police, didn't I? Legalism only goes so far, and      │
 calling up your beefiest friends to go rough up a no-good do-gooder is           │
 basically what mobs, mafias, and gangs do. I don't think people would consent    │
 to being protected by a gang, much less governed by one.                         │
 we will think of something.                                                      │
                                                            ┌───────────┤
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────┴──────────┘

--- #2 fediverse/5302 ---
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────┐
 ┌────────────────────────┐                                                       │
 │ CW: politics-mentioned │                                                       │
 └────────────────────────┘                                                       │
 trump is doing this thing where he's making a bunch of dumb decisions that       │
 everyone in his base sorta wants, and then the fallout is that powers are        │
 removed from the executive branch. this is a difficult process to reverse, and   │
 aligns the governance strategy more toward bureaucracy and away from             │
 intelligent design.                                                              │
 ... but also, if power is possible then power is portended.                      │
 I will warn you, the expansion of bureaucracy does not equal the abolishment     │
 of power.                                                                        │
 [power: compulsive will applied toward an unconsenting other]                    │
 [unconsenting: unable to consent because their mouth is gagged, something        │
 valuable is at stake, or they can't survive failing]                             │
 the abolishment of power can only be realized when no man holds any              │
 possessions (and gives them to woman instead, chirps the spunky beard on my      │
 window) which is neither a desirable state. much better to cherish the moments   │
 and the tools which brought about them, than their worth, renown, or value.      │
 In all other lives but this one, you are afraid.                                 │
                                                            ┌───────────┤
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───┴──────────┘

--- #3 messages/154 ---
══════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────────────────
 There are two types of people with power, but it's impossible to tell which is
 which because anyone that gravitic must necessarily hide their true colors.
 
 The first just wants to hurt people. You cannot reason with them, they want
 power for powers sake and they are corrupted by it.
 
 The other is a kind of benevolent fascist, who doesn't want the nuclear
 football in the hands of the people because obviously they'd hurt themselves
 with it.
 
 The second kind can be reasoned with. Of course people exist on a spectrum,
 but these are two extremes that they may be defined by. The second kind can bs
 reasoned with. If you can show them how, structurally and immutably, the power
 they are to relinquish shall not harm this earth, then they shall grant it to
 you. Because at their core they are a kind grandpa herding cats with laser
 swords attached to their tails who are hopped up on catnip at all times.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────────────────┘

--- #4 fediverse/4113 ---
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────
 ┌──────────────────────────┐
 │ CW: capitalism-mentioned │
 └──────────────────────────┘


 I don't know how much simpler I can state it than this:
 
 power is penance
 
 and yet repentance is scant amongst those chosen to lead us.
 
 Voting slows things down. It gives us room to breathe. It is crucial for
 long-term operations. Leaders should be chosen for experience, wisdom, and a
 humble lifetime of dedicated service to others.
 
 Executive action is important when reactivity and adaptability are important.
 Projects should be undertaken by those chosen for merit and spirit. They
 should not be chosen for charisma or gravitas - both can be earned in the line
 of duty.
 
 Power should not be rewarded. It is it's own reward, the feeling of strength
 and control, and it must be wielded with care, precision, and honorable
 intention.
 
 Self flagellation and forced humility are self defeating. They are traps that
 the greedy fall into when seeking righteous power. They misunderstand the
 nature of virtue and seek to claim it for themselves, failing to realize that
 virtue helps more than it hedonizes
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────┘

--- #5 fediverse/5660 ---
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────┐
 ┌─────────────────────────┐                                                      │
 │ CW: violence-alluded-to │                                                      │
 └─────────────────────────┘                                                      │
 my enemy is not "the rich"                                                       │
 money brings power, and power brings evil, but there are many other ways to      │
 gather power that may be just as evil.                                           │
 my enemy is evil. of which there is very little in the world, but much of        │
 which resides in the hands of the powerful, upon whom all our fates depend.      │
 most people with money are either stupid lucky, willful, or intensely focused.   │
 some people with power are rich, and some people with power are evil.            │
 I know it when I see it. Sometimes, you need to force the choice - test their    │
 virtue - and from this you are informed.                                         │
 most things go WAY over my head.                                                 │
 most things are too easy to be true.                                             │
 most things that Id do for you tend to be of the heart. I'm not a frontline      │
 girl, I have weak noodle arms, but I do hope you're in shape.                    │
 resolve, determination, and innovation. That is what I offer. Do you want it?    │
 I'm sure. I won't prove it with blood, not unless I may raise my fists in        │
 defence of another.                                                              │
 I'm not JUST a baby, I'm a banner too.                                           │
 bannermen fall.                                                                  │
bannermen fall last.  negative six characters remaining.
                                                            ┌───────────┤
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─┴──────────┘

--- #6 fediverse/4188 ---
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────
 I think too fast. If given unlimited power, I'd literally think myself into
 catastrophe because I need to explore all the possible alternatives. Including
 the catastrophe ones. But by thinking something, you manifest it - because you
 have unlimited power, right? EVERYTHING you do is powerful. There's no way to
 control that! So it cannot be, for it has not been. And surely, surely, shall
 not either. Surely, right?
 
 ... good news is you can undo it just as easily, all you have to do is forget
 what you were doing and go back to your neutral state. Sure would be neat if
 some kind of machination or parasite could hit your reset switch every couple
 hours when you started to think too hard. Maybe like... a little octopus
 living under your witch hat. Super chibi and cute - it'd like, tap on your
 head to go one way or the other, and in conversations it'd pull your hair if
 you were being a jerk. Stuff like that.
 
 ... what was I saying? Oh yes -> don't give anyone unlimited power like a
 god-emperor or king, trust me
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────┘

--- #7 fediverse/3519 ---
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────────
 @user-570 
 
 hm... the more I think about it, the more I think you're right. I want those
 things too. I'd be best suited to them, I think. But somehow I don't want
 them? I don't crave power. I don't want to dominate someone else, to command
 and see them follow me.
 
 I want to be the person who's like "oh, you're working on this-and-that? I
 know a guy who can help." or "hey I noticed we have a vulnerability in this
 particular domain under these conditions, I think we should allocate
 this-or-that resource to ameliorate it because they aren't being used to their
 full potential"
 
 I think I understand exactly what you're saying. I empathize a lot. I'm afraid
 of responsibility, sure, but who isn't? However, the responsibility has to be
 held by someone, and who better than the one making the decisions...
 
 I don't want to make decisions because it feels good. Honestly it feels kinda
 bad.
 
 I do want to make decisions because I'm good at it. I think strategically.
 
 A leader alone is prey for the wolves, so they say...
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────┘

--- #8 fediverse/5280 ---
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────┐
 I'm an anarcho monarchist, which is something I just made up.                    │
 if I gather 300 people to my cause, why shouldn't they call me queen?            │
 oh, are you concerned that I'll wrest power from the government? ha, what a      │
 trifling notion. I don't care about the government. I tried to care, but         │
 nobody liked my ideas. they required too much computing infrastructure to        │
 feasibly test, and that made people dubious. but I tell ya, it would have        │
 worked. The thing is... governance, economics, these are not the tools of        │
 power. they are a shifting and changing beast that mirrors the human instinct,   │
 if only because the government is of the people and by the people and for the    │
 people etcetera.                                                                 │
 power is it's own thing. you can use to to power devices, or power the usage     │
 of those devices. I, for example, really like World of Warcraft which's a        │
 really neat way to chat because none of the chat logs are stored and monitored   │
 because I'm hosting and I'm not storing and monitoring.                          │
 what's that? official servers? I dunno, I use azerothcore                        │
                                                            ┌───────────┤
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───┴──────────┘

--- #9 fediverse/6056 ---
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────
 the only way that I've seen to keep human society is if power as a concept is
 abolished.
 
 power: the application of force to an unconsenting subject - not unable to
 consent, but simply has not consented.
 
 alternatively: power: the capability to apply force to an unconsenting subject
 
 if you abolish that, we get the trappings of modern society and all the joys
 of modernity, but we lose precious important things like grand narratives,
 culture, and faith. it's easy to fall into despair in such a place.
 
 who can say maybe humans will surprise me, they often do.
 
 the reason I say that abolishing power is the only way to "keep" society is
 because we've created powers that imply the destruction of society. Our fate
 was sealed with the first public radio broadcast, but now it is inertia.
 
 AI can hide the modern world from the globe. AI can write anything a human
 can, and it's prompts can be auto-generated. There's no need for a human in
 the news-loop, simply give whatever gets views. Or whatever gives your views.
                                                           ───────┐
 similar                        chronological                        different═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────┘

--- #10 fediverse/434 ---
═════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────────────────
 @user-324 @user-325 @user-326 
 
 thus enters the promise of technology: that we might solve the problems of
 bureaucracy once and for all by ever more effiency-aligning mechanical
 processes that produce effects which we desire - such as efficient allocation
 of medical resources such that all of humanity is protected from the ravages
 of pain and the incongruencies of our nature.
 
 Alas, that we should only conceive of success through the lens of profit.
 Perhaps another design is in order?
 
 (oh yeah also people who are in control are worried that we, like all other
 examples of natural entities, might immediately proceed to breed beyond the
 capability to cater to the needs of said entity (such as "to feed" and medical
 resources) and therefore might overburden (and therefore destroy) said system
 which allows for their sustenance and initial creation. To this I say... Yeah
 probs, what should we do about it?)
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═══════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────────────────┘

--- #11 messages/547 ---
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────
 Internationalize amazon and walmart and you'll have fixed most of the problems
 of globalism.
 
 But you can't fix anything if you don't have power...
 
 It's important to focus on how to get power. Keep in mind "what to do when you
 have power" but don't let it dominate your thoughts. Focus on claiming your
 right to determination.
 
 Steps to revolution:
 
 1. Invert power structures with unions 
 2. Care for people with mutual aid 
 3. Vote for the Democrat so we have a few more years of peace 
 4. Teach people to always be learning
 5. Connect to people on a personal or spiritual level 
 6. Make the world a better place, whether that's by sweeping a street corner
 or helping people smile, it doesn't really matter how. What matters is the
 intention.
 7. Improve your self and your life. Do pushups, eat better, drink more water,
 spend time writing (writing is thinking), and take time to sit and stare at
 the flowers.
 8. Kill the part of yourself that cringes. Everyone's figuring things out and
 its okay to say "haha okay then"
 9. Spend time with animals.
 10. Make mistakes. Apologize for them. Learn from them. Stay mobile in your
 character. Develop new ways of being.
 11. React with vigor when the time comes. This vigor will only be violent if
 it is caused by violence. Much more likely is a strength through organization.
 We can do it if we do it together!
 12. Show up every day, but don't hang around if everyone's resting at home.
 It's okay to stop showing up if things are on pause.
 13. Trust that your allies are working. Or resting. Or preparing.
 14. Plans change, planning remains.
 15. Dream of a better future. It is within reach.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────┘

--- #12 fediverse/632 ---
═════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────────────────
 ┌─────────────────────────────┐
 │ CW: horror-at-the-end-well- │
 └─────────────────────────────┘


 @user-232 @user-467 @user-468 
 
 the ability for good to win is due to the desire for evil to renounce their
 denial and follow the most durable path. trials by fire will lead only to our
 desmire [demise and desire]
 
 but unity of trust, while much harder, can lead to results more beneficial for
 our selfish selves. Essentially, cooperation for the benefit of all rising
 tides, but with the knowledge that the total pool allocated toward us will be
 greater than what we can create here by ourselves. Essentially, we as humanity
 pour such intense amounts of power and decision-making-desire, that we cause
 them to lack the capacity to know. it's inhumane, that a person should be so
 deranged. you know it's because of you, but you don't know how else to act -
 so listen to those who've helped you, the ones who've got your back. Surely
 they know what's good for you, surely they're not here as a joke - surely
 you're just as one among them, and surely it's not phrased as [char limit srr]
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═══════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────────────────┘

--- #13 messages/408 ---
════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────────────
 If our government was of the people, by the people, and for the people, then
 it would aim to make all of its citizens as rich as it could. A good place to
 start would be by encouraging deflation, so people could buy more high quality
 goods on the international markets, and by regulating the power that select
 few individuals may use to extract wealth and labor from the "lesser" citizens.
 
 I don't know about you but I believe that all men are created equal, and it is
 unconscionable that some may bend others to their will.
 
 Liberty, liberty, freedom for me but not for thee, for I am a despot you see,
 of my own little fiefdom, this palace of renown - I built my playground from
 the blood and bones of your kin, and I stand here on the high ground. Come at
 me! See what my army of drones can do. I built them overseas, with an army of
 slaves that I'm not accountable for. Come at me! See who the police of this
 nation will protect. I paid for them, after all, with my endless coffers and
 vaults of inherited wealth. Come at me! See who will believe ye, the media is
 at my beck and call. Propaganda works on everyone, and everything you see on
 your phone or TV was written for me. So take care, little one, lest I kill you
 with a thought. Less than a thought, for you are just a number to me.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent══════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────────┘

--- #14 fediverse/4110 ---
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────
 ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
 │ CW: government-corporations-capitalism-mentioned │
 └──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘


 if you have a job, your life is dictated by your corporation just as much as
 it is by your government.
 
 And yet corporate leaders are not elected, but rather selected. And that is
 unfair for all the reasons that primogeniture was. It is unjust for all the
 same reasons that monarchy was. It is a tool of oppression, just like
 autocracy is.
 
 The world will never be free until we can be as we choose to be. Our society
 is simply too enmeshed with capitalism to destroy it, but we could, with the
 minimal required effort, dismantle the corruption and authoritarian control
 that is wielded against us as we weld our own chains day after day.
 
 We can replace them. We can vote for them. We can select leaders who know more
 than us and are better suited for the role than those who seek only to
 maximize profit over all else.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────┘

--- #15 fediverse/4224 ---
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────
 ┌────────────────────────┐
 │ CW: politics-mentioned │
 └────────────────────────┘


 we could accomplish so much, but capitalism.
 
 hmmmm, maybe we should identify the highest output members of our team and
 like, reduce or eliminate their worries so they can apply themselves fully and
 completely?
 
 for every shackle we break, the struggle becomes easier. The hardest part is
 the beginning - once the ball is rolling, we may truly shine.
 
 there is no government nor circle of autocrats who may resist the will of an
 impassioned people. So long as the military does not deny us our right to
 organize ourselves as we will, according to the constitution they swore to
 uphold (which is now in peril, I might add), nothing can contain us.
 
 no acts of god nor capital shall prevent our ascension. They will try, and
 it'll be just another thing that we have to handle.
 
 But we can take care of each other. For we are good, and we are kind, and we
 are cooperative. And so, we cannot be overcome.
 
 ... just watch out for those who prey on goodness, kindness, and cooperation.
 They may hamper us.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────┘

--- #16 fediverse/3153 ---
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────────
 ┌────────────────────────────────────┐
 │ CW: re: politics-socialism-mention │
 └────────────────────────────────────┘


 @user-1074 
 
 yep... Though I think debate can also get in the way.
 
 I think we should act to improve the people's lives. Debate should teach, it
 should guide, but it should not prevent.
 
 There are more than enough resources for everyone. If you waste them, debate
 can decide when you get more to use.
 
 Much the same way that our Northern American democracy utilizes
 representatives in order to distance the decision making from the decision
 deciding, so too should be separate the empowered people acting for the good
 of all from those who decide who are good.
 
 Power must be earned, it must be deserved, and it must be eventually
 relinquished. That is the sacred duty of those who wield power - to use it
 honorably, and give it away.
 
 we should not debate things that are not mutable. We should not waste time
 complaining about how annoying other people are. who gives a shit if she wears
 a dress.
 
 we should not debate our human rights. Like bodily autonomy. it's her uterus.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────────┘

--- #17 fediverse/6055 ---
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────
 the longer we wait, the more their hypocrisy becomes apparent, and the more
 "the people" get it
 
 but, uh... I think enough people get it. They at least know something is going
 on, whatever it may be.
 
 they will tell their base whatever they want to hear and their base will have
 hate. they're itching for it.
 
 volunteer for things if you want a say in how they turn out. risk your life to
 live longer. there is no way to know when the time is right because nobody
 knows the truth of our times. Even the president is misled.
 
 gee I sure wish there was like, some form of centralizing intelliagentic
 knowledge that pulled the strings and led us puppets toward liberty, justice,
 and freedom for all (as a baseline) surely they'd be able to see the
 corruption and rot that imperils us all, might they have a better design? who
 can say, they are quiet as the grave, here's hoping they stay that way.
 
 "you know the powers of which you speak are not to be trifled with"
 
 you can't trifle with your own life. be thorough~
                                                           ───────┐
 similar                        chronological                        different═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────┘

--- #18 messages/982 ---
═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────
 if you want a government to be unable to harm it's citizens, you must deprive
 it of the power to do so. or rather, have the main capabilities in the hands
 of the citizenry.
 
 can you imagine if soldiers had to prove themselves to civilians in order to
 be trusted with mechano-chinery?
 
 who would ever choose the non-valorous and determinable?
 
 instilling the culture of greatness
 
 within the archetypes and character structures that we believed were confisight
 
 bold and determined and measured and freely detectable
 
 who would slay the brave paladin? none but the fools, who shared in their lack
 of conviction.
 
 determined? ha, I am as you see me. Come and claim me, that I might determine
 you some more.
                                                           ─────────┐
 similar                        chronological                        different═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────┘

--- #19 messages/314 ---
══════════════════════════════════════════════════─────────────────────────────────
 Sowing political division the way Fox news does is treasonous... It doesn't
 matter the intention, those responsible should be forced to cease their
 actions. I don't care about punishment, I care about damage to the fabric of
 our society.
 
 Take, for example, the fact that the military is struggling to find recruits.
 So many of them typically come from the right half of the political spectrum
 because the right tends to favor the ideals of "honorable warriors" and such.
 But Fox News has corrupted that.
 
 In addition, the left half of the media has also incited hatred amongst
 ourselves. It's wrong to pit brother against brother, and yet...
 
 We have a weak series of generations and that's okay in times of peace. But
 times of peace are coveted abroad, and weakness is opportunity. So I don't
 care if we have 10,000 tanks. Hell, build ten thousand more. I despise war,
 but I despise weakness even more because weakness begets war. Typically, a war
 that you'd be losing, though frankly in war, everyone loses.
 
 There are grevious mistakes at play that gave room for evil to spread.
 Corruption follows, and with it comes our greatest generation on its death
 bed. A civil war would be the end of us, as nothing stops war in the imperial
 core until there's nothing but ashes and bloodshed.
 
 And yet, something has to change. There's too much pressure for this to go on
 un-abated. I thank the masterful statesmen who ply their trade for their own
 profit, for in their profit our peace does follow. Alas, the most profitable
 venture is war, which often gets exported. How callous, how vain, to exert and
 call forth fiery rain, and yet the bullets keep leaving the factory.
 
 Power corrupts. Power accretes. And power can be deceived.
 
 Fuck power, dismantle the whole apparatus. Build it back up from the
 mechanics, and then implement it bit by bit. Leave no stone unturned, there is
 no facet that is sacred. We need a new system, and its we who must make it.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent════════════════════════════════════════════════════────────────────────────────────┘

--- #20 fediverse/3447 ---
════════════════════════════════════════════════════════───────────────────────────
 ┌──────────────────────────┐
 │ CW: capitalism-mentioned │
 └──────────────────────────┘


 low key kinda pissed that all my ideas for starting a business require
 funding, because funding tends to be controlled by the "business major" types,
 and all of my ideas tend to involve wresting power from the MBAs and
 capitalists, which means they're unlikely to invest in me or utilize my ideas.
 
 unless of course it's crowd-funded, which makes me feel bad because it's
 taking money from the people I'm trying to empower.
 
 thus, power accretes in the hands of the wealthy, as the poor are too sick
 with capital-deficiency to develop ventures that would heal them, and the rich
 would not be rich if they did so themselves.
                                                           ┌───────────┐
 similar                        chronologicaldifferent══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════──────────────────────────┘