MINDLESS MUSINGS

The people on the shop floor know they are just numbers, expendable numbers. They look at their supervisors (team leaders, leading hands or whatever other bullshit title) and know that those Schmoes are standing on even thinner ice. No sympathy for them of course, they took the step up, they enforce the shitty rules – fuck them!

We’ll skip all the section managers, 2ICs and any other non-worker who may or may not be needed. Usually a few of these lot can vanish and not be missed. Let’s jump to the person in charge of this location (insert fancy title here). We’ll call them the leading leader. The individual who answers to those people who are seen walking around once or twice a year. The ones you must tidy up the place and conceal any defects before they arrive.

On a small scale they might be ‘head office’. Larger operations can have layers upon layers of managers and multiple departments. The chart can look like the family tree of a promiscuous bunch of inbreeders. Trying to find the highest honcho for your exact job could be like trying to pinpoint your great, great aunt on your mother’s side who was actually the second wife of….

Odds on the leading leader couldn’t find his ‘supreme leader’ either. Bizarre thing is whoever that person may be they are only the supreme leader of that particular bloodline. How ever many of them exist, they must answer to a higher power: A General Manager, Director or even President! These guys are not interested in your problem on the floor though. Shit! the supreme leader, whoever that may be, couldn’t care less.

But these higher ups make all the decisions, right? Sort of. They are all beholden to the Chief Executive Officer (now that’s a title!) the one with the vision (allegedly). Finally, one man or woman who can make the big decision. Not exactly. This person must report to the Board of Directors and all of them are answerable to the Shareholders!

Who are the Shareholders? Those enigmatic entities who must be appeased. One tycoon may have a huge chunk of shares. Other stocks reside in some bank or other financial firms’ investment portfolio, or maybe that of a rich family or individual. Maybe a regular citizen who wants a new way to gamble. Even the working persons’ superannuation may be mixed in – a proper fucking spider web!

I do not know enough about the details of stocks and trading. All I do know is that one thing trumps all other concerns in this caper – profit!!! Every single human being in this convoluted system must kneel before this insatiable deity. Keep making profits and no, I’m not simply saying ensure you make more than you spend. I mean keep making higher profits. This beast must grow or perish.

If you aren’t growing, you are effectively shrinking because while you are in stasis some other firm is growing. If you remain inactive (not unprofitable mind you) for too long you will be surpassed. If another corporation can provide bigger returns on investment (dividends) your shareholders might jump ship.

So, ultimately, the ‘vision’ of the CEO is very simple: The whole operation must produce a perpetual increase in revenue. Just let that sink in for a while.

So, you might see these corporate heads strutting around flaunting their power and wealth but try to remember that they are the ones standing face to face with the cold and horrifying fact that Profit is The Almighty. It can’t be reasoned with or placated – ‘either give me what I want, or I’ll get someone who can”.