Nearly everyone lusts for power. In and of itself, the lust for power is morally neutral. The type of power that one seeks determines whether it is good or bad, moral or evil.
When we think of examples of power lusters, dictators, gang leaders, and bullies often come to mind. Such individuals seek power over others. They want to compel others to do their bidding. They do not recognize the rights of others. This type of power lust is evil.
One can, however, lust for power in a perfectly moral way. An individual can desire power over one’s own life. One can lust for the freedom to choose and act while respecting the rights of others to choose and act as they deem best.
Unfortunately, many believe that power over their own life requires them to seek power over the lives of others. The “tenants’ rights” movement is one example.
Many tenants and their advocates believe that landlords have unfair power over renters. Landlords can raise rents, refuse to renew a lease, and take other actions that tenants don’t like. The response from renters is to advocate for rent control, “just cause” eviction laws, and other controls on property owners.
Those who advocate such regulations and controls on landlords equate economic power and political power. As Ayn Rand pointed out, economic power is the power to produce, while political power is the power to coerce. Economic power is founded on voluntary trade. Political power is founded on physical force.
When a landlord proposes an increase in the rent, a tenant has a choice: pay the additional amount, negotiate a lower increase, or move. The tenant may not like these alternatives, but that is beside the point. We often face choices between alternatives that we do not like. But so long as we are free to choose and act accordingly, we still retain power over our life.
The freedom to choose is not the type of power that housing activists seek. They lust for power to control others.