Power hierarchies are reinforced through fear of blame on the part of followers and acceptance of blame on the part of leaders.

These hierarchies function best when the leaders recognize the essential truth of blame and followers do not.

If leaders are ignorant of blame, they fear it, cannot assume it, and tend to cheat their followers out of their follower’s right: blamelessness.

But if a leader understands blame, he will assume the blame himself and play the scapegoat. He will allow his followers to redeem their guilt for a measure of work. The followers are then able to move more freely and operate more effectively. They have little to lose, now that their consciences have been guaranteed.

But if followers understand blame, they’ll require more substantial compensation.

What would happen if leaders understood blame even more poorly than their followers?

*

I’m just thinking about General Patton, whose men reputedly believed they could not be defeated as long as they were under his command.