MINDLESS MUSINGS

I can’t let it rest just yet, not until I get the key point sorted. In the previous post I explained my theory that almost all people on the bottom to middle management spectrum of the corporate structure are just working stiffs on different income levels. It possibly goes on all the way to the top, although once you enter 7 figures and up salary you are on a different level of financial independence. Along with the incredible perks you would receive, if you fuck that up, maybe you shouldn’t be in such a high position.

I understand that addiction doesn’t give a shit about income and it can bring anyone undone and I plan to go into that later. Right now, I’m speaking to the top executives that ruin themselves due to careless overspending. To have that much wealth and still live beyond your means is perversion on a ludicrous scale; although I suppose they do everything on such a scale, don’t they? More on the penthouse office occupiers later.

The Schmoes in the middle, even the ones on 6 figures, have adjusted their lifestyle to their salary almost automatically. “Moving on up” personally along with professional advancement; it just makes sense. It seems nonsensical for a person earning $500,000 a year to buy a modest house in a nice suburb and send their kids to public school.

“PUBLIC SCHOOL! THAT’S TANTAMOUNT TO CHILD ABUSE!!!”

You have a Mercedes company car to look the part, and you have a Toyota Camry as a family car. “Not a BMW? You fucken tight ass!” And there it is: the label that eats wealth. We’re not talking about driving around in a busted ass Ford Fiesta and shopping at the Salvos. We’re talking about quality products without the prestige price tag. There is plenty of high-quality merchandise available between Kmart and Rodeo Drive. High price does not always equal high quality; it doesn’t even guarantee ethical production. Another detour for later.

Now, a very real issue may arise when the business itself insists that its executives present a certain social status. A frustrating dilemma for the frugal middle manager. “I earn more, but I MUST spend more on things I do not value in order to continue earning this much”. FUCK!

Overall, the budget conscious executive would be rare. If not because of ostentatious spending, then due to the endless quest for financial stability in the form of investments. The higher your salary, the more you can borrow and so and so forth. My point is simple, we adjust our spending in accordance with our income, and we are then forced to ensure that higher living standard is maintained. The higher the level of luxury the bigger the buffer that is needed.

People literally build their own trap! I know the song is about street life, but the line is just so perfect:

“It was you who chose your doom

You built a maze you can’t get through”

“Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man” Public Enemy

The phenomena of redefining ‘acceptable’ with your new income goes unnoticed. That combined with the sinister marketing of luxury products as something every person needs can drain your bank account faster than the Barmy Army during Happy Hour!

I hope I have created, not empathy, but at least an understanding of the trapped person who is making those maddening decisions. They are not just like you, because you are very probably trying to keep yourself and yours off the street, while they are trying to keep them and theirs out of a lower class of neighbourhood. However, they are living with the same mindset as you – they do not want to lose what they have, and they would love to get further ahead. Maybe out of sheer pride and greed, but just as likely to keep the poorhouse as far away as possible.

Also, remember this: those upper echelon positions are much rarer and difficult to find alternative employment in. Think about the bullshit you put up with just to avoid the stress and disruption of needing to find another job. Going from a store-man in a warehouse to a shelf stacker in a supermarket would probably mean a drop in pay and a drop in seniority.

 So, you let things slide. Maybe you play little revenge games and rebel in your own way; but you don’t tell the asshole to “go fuck themselves” unless you have completely lost it because in a strange way the asshole wins and you have just added a complication to your life.

Imagine having a high paying position with a big wanky title and having to become a lowly supervisor – the shame! The degradation! Do you reckon the respect from superiors improves in the upper ranks? More to lose…

I’ve gone on enough. So here we go. When your supervisor informs you that the two-man job you were half of is now your job alone, they are keeping their job. Their manager who gave them the directive is paying their mortgage. The next person up the ladder has a holiday in Majorca coming soon and their boss needs money for an investment property…and up and up and up.

All these people are trying to maintain the standard of living they have become accustomed to. Free will is severely limited within this structure and if you have been reading this thread long enough, you’ll know that in my mind it goes all the way to the top. The person or people in the ivory tower all kowtow to the God of profit. All intellectual effort and creativity are directed at appeasing this insatiable deity. Not necessarily in a legal or moral way; cooked books will appease it for a while. Long enough to get that bonus anyway.

Any person in this hierarchy can step down and reduce their comfort level in an act of allegiance to the plebs and the greater good. They will quickly be replaced, and the machine will churn on. That goes for those up in the lofty heights as well, although a golden parachute is practically a given.

I guess that is the ultimate goal in this ceaseless mind and spirit crushing enterprise. To get to the level of the ‘golden handshake’. Once you cross that line your safety net increases significantly. Although my instincts tell me that the traits and determination that got you to this table will only fuel a desire for further conquest.

Sleep well. You’ve got work in the morning.