or maybe corruption empowers

Yesterday, when asking why politicians are so ethically challenged, I flippantly suggested that it's more likely that power leads to corruption rather than that corruption leads to power (at least in a democracy).

It turns out I'm wrong, according to a bunch of Dutch researchers. They tested a few scenarios in which people either followed or broke the rules. The rules breakers - those that, for example, tapped their cigarette ashes on the floor or fudged book-keeping rules - were viewed as more powerful than obedient rules-followers.

If we're naturally impressed by people who act like the rules don't apply to them, that's bad news for democracy - or any institution where an individual's success depends on others' perceptions. Could it be that we rally behind people who think they're above the law? No wonder, then, when they get into office that they're so willing to ignore the law.