empowerment....

eye am a huge fan of empowering people....  especially the people who have NO power....  or very little power....  like children....

the idea....  the whole concept....  is to bring balance....  between the ones in charge....  and the subjects....  in any circumstance....  

empowering citizens....  at this point....  eye would say that citizens are more like subjects....  than citizens....  the leaders....  love to control us....  so....  we need to find ways to limit their power....  to give the subjects a real say....  real empowerment....  this is one of the main philosophies behind compassionate conservatism....  where you let the tax payer have a say in where their money goes....  this is also the concept....  behind policies that encourage people....  rather than force people....  to do the right thing....