2) Power is unevenly distributed. Some individuals are more powerful, productive, creative, and wealthy than others, and so are some nations. That is uncontrovertible, but the corollary is important: Whether unevenly distributed power is good or evil depends on its use. Unequal power is not unjust in itself, and in certain respects asymmetry is necessary for social and political life to exist at all. If parents had no more physical power or moral authority than infants, the survival of the human race would be doubtful. If conductors had no more power than musicians, we would have no concerts. If rulers had no more power than the ruled, we would have no concerted action.

Peter Leithart gives some thoughts towards a sensible discussion of empire.