Does Power Corrupt?

Some people have speculated that since the election, President Elect Barack Obama’s rhetoric and policies have become more moderate. This could be in response to the ongoing financial crisis, which is making maintaining the status quo look like a step up from letting the situation get worse. A cynic might also point out that once people attain power they are less likely to want to change things, which could cause them to lose that power. Demands for change come from the relatively powerless—those who would benefit from it.
At least that’s the conventional wisdom. The claim that power corrupts is a cliché in our society. But a recent study reported at LiveScience (http://www.livescience.com/culture/081205-power-influence.html) suggests that having power allows people to resist pressure from outside forces (such as lobbyists), permitting them to act on their ideals more than people without power. Plus, people in power actually have the ability to make significant changes.
Will President Obama become corrupted by power, or will he fulfill the promises he has made to work for a better America? Only time will tell.