2/27/2009
6
Strict Father Model (cont)
nAuthority – Critical conditions for legitimacy include:
n1) the father must know better than the child/children what the families best interests are
n2) the parent must be acting in those best interests and not their own
n
nIllegitimate Authority
n Within the American culture, there is a resentment toward “illegitimate” authority.   The conditions for authority cease to hold when the child matures and is able to be self-reliant.  At maturity, the child is assumed to be able to determine and act on his best interests for himself.   
nA meddling parent is one who asserts his authority in the child’s life when he has no business doing so – when the conditions for authority are not respected, the parent’s authority becomes an illegitimate intrusion and is morally wrong in the Strict Father model and the father/parent is resented.
nOn matters of national security, authorities hold claim to secret information that always makes those not having access to be considered children who don’t really understand the situation and therefore are subject to their moral authority.  Unfortunately, the rules for a security clearance also say that if you disclose any of the information you’ve been given, you will not only loose your security clearance (and rights to review future intelligence information), but you will be fined and sent to prison.  Only the most highly placed authorities are exempt from such punishment and can violate these rules (Presidents and Vice Presidents, their staff, their aids, etc.)