Aside from the other things that are wrong with our system (imperialism, identity politics, greed) there’s simply not enough of a structure in place for someone who is screwed or has bad luck to make it right. Our system is basically whisper down the line where one idiot (usually a manager) can whisper a rumor and by the time it’s down the line it’s changed even more and now you’re out of a job for something you didn’t do that was probably the manager’s own fault. People with active political opinions or who are perceived this way make convenient scapegoats for bigoted managers.
What people are tired of is the corporate runaround, where little corporate dictators for no reason terminate their positions after causing them to relocate their housing, and then the next employer holds that against you.
It’s particularly tolerated in IT / Programming – an industry dominated by Indian Vendors with lower ethical standards and that came up after unions had been busted during the 1980s.
I think we’re at the point where everyone knows that American meritocracy is a failure (meaning the most talented, most productive, hardest working people don’t keep the job) but nobody says it because of the punishment they’ll get for saying it. edit: Actually that was a few years ago. We’re beyond that point. Where at the point where all the people who spoke the truth got fired.
In the 80s and 90s, being against racism was about whites being open minded. Now a lot of people are just against whites but pretend they’re against racism. This includes many people who are themselves white, but feel they’re safe in corporate america by pushing these views.
Boomers will defend the right of Blacks and Whites to drink at the same water fountain, but won’t defend the rights of either to have enough money to afford the trip to the water fountain.
Boomers are willing to feign tolerance and open-mindedness when the issue is an issue socially but not economically. Yes they want blacks and whites to eat at the same restaurants.
But when it comes to economic issues and poor people, suddenly they pull the ladder up.
The real problem is that all your civil rights in the world doesn’t make poor people middle class.
This is a problem. 50% of “liberals” think it’s within their rights to fire and ruin the careers of Trump supporters, and 32% think the same of Biden with “conservatives” (terms liberal and conservative used loosely). You have no such right to ruin someone’s bank account because your petty feelings are hurt.
30 years from now, I’ll be one of the few people who will be remembered for saying that political bullying and firing of employees for their political views is a private sector abuse of power and not a progressive cause.
The
point I like to make, is the idea that complaining is wrong in
business, that you should always speak positively about others, is
exactly what let Harvey Weinstein do what he did.
I don’t like to
complain without good reason, but if there is a good reason, I don’t
believe in sort of turning the other cheek.
Here’s my opinion. HR people and hiring people should be asked a simple question: “is life fair.” If they answer yes, they should be banned from making decisions about hiring and firing.
After that, the best people can start getting hired instead of the best butt kissers.
People who believe life is fair are the most likely to make it unfair and act against you out of their perceived sense of being wronged when it’s actually their own fault.
