The relativity of power

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The one thing that I never understood about people is why they like a society where those more in power than you can get away with stuff, while you in turn are supposed to get away with stuff with those less in power than you. (If someone can rephrase this in clearer English, I'll be grateful, as it's not my language).

For example, let's say I go to an office where I need the clerk more than the clerk needs me, so I'm treated accordingly (she gets away with stuff that, were I the one in power in our interaction, she wouldn't even dream of pulling).

Don't humans understand that power can change at the drop of a hat? It might happen that in that minute, the building caught fire and I found myself in a position to risk myself a bit to save this clerk - or not. Then the power tables are turned, and I give as good as I got.

People seem to love this game, and they're as good as winners as they are as losers. The moment the tables are turned and they lose big time, they don't complain because they know that's the game.

When we were kids, my parents had power over us because it was THEIR house, THEIR money, THEIR food, and we depended on them to survive. They used that power in their benefit. Then when they were old and sick, my siblings used their power over the parents in their benefit. My parents never complained, for them it was only natural, the tables had been turned and those are the rules of the game.

Why live like this? Why is power so important that it justifies this cruel game?

I don't really understand. I wish that everyone would just treat everybody else the same. :/

Only a small group of sociopathic people actually like this kind of society. A much larger group simply derive more pleasure/rewards from conformity than they derive from resistance (both in action and in thought), so they play along with it. That's my hypothesis.

I generally wish we could just drop these power/dominance games. Especially when the power is distributed according to ret*d old stereotypes. I can't see wannabe alpha males anymore.