Power and Authority

A government surveyor brought his equipment to a farm, called on the farmer, and asked permission to take readings for use in constructing a proposed highway that would run through his land. The farmer objected. He was determined to do all in his power to prevent the project from coming to pass …

ìI will not give you permission to go into my field,î said the farmer. Whereupon the surveyor produced an official government document which authorized him to do the survey. ìI have the authority,î he said, to enter any field in the entire county and take necessary readings.î

Faced with such authority, the farmer opened the gate and allowed the surveyor to enter the field. The farmer then went to the far end of the field and opened another gate, through which one of his fiercest bulls came charging.

Seeing the bull, the surveyor dropped his equipment and began to run for dear life. And he could hear the farmer triumphantly shouting after…