In the academy award nominated Russian movie Leviathan a man, Nikolay confronts the mayor, Mer, a big fish in a small pond, in trying to keep his home. The mayor is totally corrupt and keeps his lackeys in tow through an election coming up in one year, which if he fails means the end of many jobs. Nikolay asks his friend, Dmitriy from Moscow, a member of the Moscow Bar Association to help. Lots of dirt is dug up about the mayor and on some level it seems that the tide will turn in favor of Nikolay. There are numerous twists and turns, creating some hope that the mayor will be bagged. But alas, the mayor and his goons are too powerful -the Moscow attorney is forced to leave; the man ends up in jail for a murder that he didn't commit.
Most likely this story is based on truth, i.e. there are "mayors" throughout the world wielding their power based on illegitimate acts, blindly supported by those who would change their stripes if the "mayor" was not re-elected. And then there are those of us trying to make life fairer, but ultimately fighting an uphill battle.
From a young age, many of us learn that life is about us and our family. We can help others but we must "feed our egos" and acquire as much as possible for ourselves. If we can somehow encourage others in this quest we do it. As children we call someone our best friend, or share some candy, possibly to get someone to like us. This starts out innocently enough but over time grows to where the gifts might become cash, certain favors, jobs, etc.
Someone trying to create a level playing field or "upsetting the apple cart" is behind the 8-ball. If I start "messing" with someone's incentives, never mind whether these are legitimate or not, people start to do whatever they can, e.g. spreading lies, to maintain the system. Those outside of the system, wielding little or no power, might have some critical words but maintain their observer status, because even they are getting some benefit and don't want to lose what little they have. It's a vicious cycle until someone is willing to say that the "Emperor has no clothes" and others realize that in fact the Emperor is naked. However, most of us have too much to lose if we see the Emperor's nakedness.
Although we know that we are being "ripped off", we are still getting some crumbs, enough to feed ourselves and our families and maintain a home and a certain lifestyle. This becomes less about taking risks and more about continuing to do what we do because at least we know, or think we know, what will happen.
One the one hand we need to realize that the scenario portrayed in Leviathan is probably not that far fetched; on the other hand we need to tackle and bring injustice to light but also know that things may not change as we hope.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/world/europe/leviathan-arussian-movie-...
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