To be responsible for a task and to delegate more pedestrian aspects of that task, begs the question, is the taskmaster exercising power for its own sake? Or is the taskmaster being lazy? Or are there truly resource (i.e. time) constraints prohibiting the taskmaster from otherwise completing the task? Or is it some combination thereof? I would venture a (cynical?) guess that a significant majority of the time, it is an entanglement of power and laziness. Perhaps the power drives the laziness allowing time for the taskmaster to glory in his or her greatness, or perhaps the sloth drives the power enabling the taskmaster to more easily focus on personal gluttony.

Either or both power and/or laziness, no matter the driver, indicate an unwillingness on the part of a taskmaster to exhibit compassion or to actively hope and work toward change for the better. We, as a species, are killing ourselves with this widespread unwillingness that power then tries to hide. It's not hard though to lift the shroud and see the machinations. And if we dig a little deeper, I believe we will find it is fear that is driving these cogs and wheels.

To pursue power requires confidence and a degree of certainty, yet truthfulness and respect for reality requires one to admit to one’s imperfections and uncertainties. In this sense we are all frauds who fear being found out. The only difference is, some of us know this, some of us don’t; and those of us who do, don’t know it all the time. I learn more from my silence, from my failings, from acknowledging my fears, than I will ever glean from exercising power.

But it is for the very same reasons that I don’t always recognize myself as a fraud, that I also resent being used by power – my ego, my imperfections, my uncertainties, this filter aka me. So should I even be asking this question of a taskmaster when I am also unable to consistently hold myself accountable. Perhaps not. But then again, just as (periodically) acknowledging my fears helps me to better understand and exhibit compassion, I believe an awareness of any power/indolence dynamic creates potential for change for the better. But I cannot confuse this potential for betterment with thinking or acting as if I am better. I cannot lose sight of compassion. I cannot blame or be angry with another for being human; for acting not only on instinct but also on learned, rewarded behavior.

Which brings us back, (I’ve been here before), to this system that we live in that rewards indifference, pride, greed, bureaucracy, convention, certainty, and division, all carelessly covered by a superficial, pretentious, political kindness.

Who are we?

Who do we want to be?

Instead of being the predominant species on Earth, perhaps we should return the Earth to the Earth and become responsible stewards. Instead of taskmaster, perhaps we should aspire to caretaker. But to do these things, to do so would require a willingness as individuals to go unrewarded; or, it would require a different system.

The third option – to be looked back upon as a short-lived species.