Early 2009 |
Did someone once say “Corporations are people, my friend?”
Did that same elitist also declare 47% of voters were of no consequence as they are bound to the Democratic Party? Thus, declaring half of US voters of no concern to the GOP and wealthy Americans.
Does the person who spoke the comments hold membership in a party that consistently votes against equal pay for women?
Did that party very recently refuse to allow the Paycheck Fairness Act a US Senate vote?
Yes, corporate America is full of elitist millionaires who have no regard for fair and equal pay. It is truly unfortunate, but there are only a few corporate CEOs and executive management teams that value progressive ideology that manifest in associated values, vision and mission. One such billionaire is venture capitalist Nick Hanauer and another is noted real estate mogul and financial guru Warren Buffet. The numbers are small compared to the much more common conservative who manages the nation’s mega corporations. Lest, we forget Bill and Melinda Gates owners of Microsoft.
Did I mention Microsoft? While the Gates’ may not appreciate categorization as a progressive corporatist, their social record away from Microsoft indicates an affinity for humane efforts to help the plight of people who have nothing and deserve a shot at an improved life (especially regarding education and life in the African Continent). I digress, but only for sake of illustration. End digression.
This past winter (2014) Microsoft anointed this man as CEO.
It took mere weeks for the CEO corporatist to adopt the Mark Zukerberg Tee-shirt/hoodie vesture (eg. the cool techie executive look).
After only a few months in the top chair Nadella’s inner core came forth like a blast of flatulence at the most inopportune of moments; for the whole world to see, hear and feel.
Huffington Post and all media are reporting on Nadella’s revealing moment.
“He had been asked to give his advice to women who are uncomfortable requesting a raise. His response: “It’s not really about asking for the raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along.” Not asking for raise, he added, is “good karma” that would help a boss realize that the employee could be trusted and should have more responsibility.
“Corporations are people my friend!” No the corporation is a state chartered entity that proliferates for the sole purpose of providing income to a select few while providing jobs, products or services. Its over-ridding mission according to my Masters in Business Administration professors: “To maintain its existence as an ongoing business concern.”
Nadella’s remarks echo the reality of disparate treatment (intentional discrimination) and disparate impact (Unintentional results from policies that result in forms of discrimination) from the corporate leaders towards certain employee demographic groups. Disparate or not, we saw this week why some refuse to ignore what we call “War on Women.” Nadella may live the life of a committed liberal (I doubt that), as his remarks remind of the liberal who will fight for equal rights, but will immediately order a home for sale sign when black family moves into the home next door.
As should we should have anticipated, the Microsoft CEO quickly sought to cover his psyche with perfunctory apologizes and “comment reversing” Tweets. How often have you heard similar from many dweebs caught speaking from their hearts with reticence of the resultant feedback? I offer Paul Ryan’s “Inner city culture” as a prime example and I offer many racist email, jokes and remarks throughout the past few years of an African-American progressive in the White House.
Al Jazeera America (headline)
Microsoft CEO apologizes over ‘completely wrong’ women’s pay remarks
USA TODAY
After which Nadella issued, the ever-present and increasingly inane “walk-back.” After the perfunctory apology and issuance of “I was inarticulate,” what else is left? Social Media, of course.
“I was inarticulate.” Didn’t Paul Ryan also use that phraseology?
I have grown to view the phraseology as: “I spoke my mind, divulge my inner thoughts, and now I have no rational words to extricate myself from my psyche.” If you prefer a more brief summary try this: “OOPS.” Commonly used to cover stupidity as with Rick Perry’s debate “oops” or to cover the inadvertent flatulence you release at the most undesirable time and place.
The mindset is widespread and inherent to most chief executives who have reached the corporate pinnacle. A mindset that spreads down and across all corporate fissures as the “rock star” CEO is literally the corporate “god”, with all inherent deference, butt-sucking and subservience. Often the unwritten mindset outweighs compensation systems (pay and promotion) that are well meaning and architecturally developed to be fair and equitable.
Nadella’s remarks will fade into US history as having garnered an apology and worthy of moving forward. Of course, it will the very same system of privilege works against people of color, women, white men over age 40 and the physically challenged each and every day in corporate America. If those who are ultimately responsible such as Board of Directors and major Shareholders (or private owners) do not work to extinguish placement of such people in high places we as a nation will never see the death of inequality and inequity int he workplace.
The Microsoft CEO provided an irrefutable case for Affirmative-Action. If not forced via policy that requires government contractors and subcontractors to provide fair and equitable workplaces and policies, Nadella’s mindset rules and preservers.
Nadella’s remarks can only be consider as “Stay in your place and do not rock the boat.” He should learn the hard lesson most of us learned after mere months in the trenches of corporate America: There is no “Karma” below the level of executive vice-president.
In September, the GOP gave a deciding “NO” to allowing the Pay check Fairness Act to come up for a vote.
var icx_publication_id = ‘14291’; var icx_copyright_notice = ‘2014 TheProgressiveInfluence’;
The Pardu's Scroll 
