Authority Without Responsibility

It is a common complaint of some who function within organizations that they are given responsibility without authority.  They are asked to accomplish something, and held responsible for how, and if, they accomplish it, but they are not allowed to determine the rules by which it is to be accomplished, or even the mission under which the task is assigned.  This is experienced as a great disadvantage, leading to pressure, frustration, and helplessness.  Such people are hard pressed to win.  They can almost only lose.

Other people have discovered the possibility of commandeering authority without responsibility.  They would like to position themselves such that they determine what is to be accomplished, but they accept no responsibility for the outcome.

We see some of that dynamic here in Biscayne Park.  There are neighbors here who complain and criticize, and offer themselves and their positions as if they were broadly representative of some significant proportion of the community, but they do little more than complain and criticize.  They typically offer no viable or reliable alternatives.  They seem to view their contributions as resting on disqualifying the proposals of other people.

These people have another trait in common.  When offered even more authority, and the actual responsibility to go with it, they decline.  The way this most commonly plays out is that one or more of them might be encouraged to run for Commission, since they have so many important ideas and are so frustrated when those ideas are not adopted by the elected decision-makers.  No, they immediately deflect, they have no such ambition.

The expressed frustration, anger, and resentment are so openly displayed that it is tempting to assume these feelings are actually experienced by those who want (some) authority without (any) responsibility.

But one wonders.  If the frustration, anger, and resentment at not having the power to act were so great, wouldn't the individual want that power, and that authority?  Or is real responsibility so much to be avoided, and the opportunity simply to blame someone else such a relief, that it is preferable not to have full authority?