The corrupting nature of power arises from two sources: (1) presuming the propriety of exercising coercive authority over others (which IS corruption); and, (2) the enjoyment of immunity from the consequences of the exercise of power. When a president and a prime minister are applauded for expressing condolences to the 32 victims of the VPI shooting - while insisting upon the continued slaughter of tens of thousands of equally innocent people in Iraqi - one has a pretty good measure of how deeply such corruption has seeped into people's minds.
