Join CRA TODAY!
There is no “US” Without You!
Thank you for visiting us here at the online headquarters for THE CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY.
If you find value in the work we are doing to help fight for conservative values here in the Golden State, PLEASE BECOME A MEMBER TODAY!
By Derrick Gates,, CRA Vice President & Chaplin
‘There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right.’ – Ronald Reagan
OPINION – Power is a peculiar thing. It’s neither inherently good nor evil—it’s a tool. But the question that cuts to the heart of our motives is this: Why do we seek it?
In a world increasingly driven by the applause of the masses and the fleeting high of approval, do we chase power simply to demand the attention of the crowd? Are we so consumed by insecurity that we hunger for power to fill a void within ourselves? Or do we dare to seek it for its noblest purpose—to create real, lasting change? This noble pursuit of power, aimed at the betterment of society, is what should drive us.
History is littered with cautionary tales about power’s corruptive influence. Lord Acton was right: “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Yet, far too often, I’ve seen people surround themselves with sycophants, unwilling to confront hard truths. Coalitions of convenience, built without conviction, unravel at the first sign of adversity. Power without principle is a fire that consumes everything in its path.
In my six years in politics, I’ve learned this: if you pursue power for the wrong reasons, it will destroy you. The “right reasons” are harder to define but easy to recognize. If you seek power to lie, manipulate, or exalt yourself, you’re building your foundation on sand. A lie may secure you a throne, but it will never secure your soul. If the lie got you there, you will need to continue the lie to keep you there.
I don’t claim to have all the answers. But here’s one truth I know in my bones: I would rather burn my world to ashes than betray the principles that brought me here. Nothing in life—whether success, recognition, or even truth—has been handed to me. Every step forward has been fought for, bled for, and earned.
Truth, I’ve learned, is the sword that separates the sheep from the wolves. If you’re not willing to stand firm on that truth, you’re not fit to protect the flock.
And while truth will echo through eternity, power itself is fleeting. What matters is what we do with it. When my time is done, I want my legacy to be unmistakable: I sought power not for applause, not for approval, but to protect what matters and to pass a foundation of truth to future generations.
Lastly, choose your allies wisely. Not everyone clapping for you truly has your back. As I’ve often said, “You need to be clear about who really stands with you. Do they celebrate you privately but slander you publicly? Do they cheer for you outwardly but conspire against you behind the scenes? Keep your circle small. Not everyone who claps for you is really in your corner.” This caution in choosing allies is crucial in pursuing and maintaining power.
Power must be pursued with humility and held with integrity. Anything less, and it’s not worth the price. Integrity is the currency of power; anything else is counterfeit. This respect for the power we hold and the principles we uphold is what separates true leaders from mere holders of power. – Derrick Gates
Dr. Derrick Gates, DD
66th Assembly Republican Central Committee
Elected
Board of Directors California Republican Assembly
Vice President / Chaplain
Unleashed & Unplugged
Podcast Host
412 Media Network
CEO
American Freedom Network
CEO
WORD AND SPIRIT TV NETWORK
CEO
Remnant Media Network
Founder/TV personality
WILDONES MINISTRY INSTITUTE
Professor
Booking – www.derrickgates.com
Political – www.officialderrickgates.com
