James Fallows: Why You Cannot Say You 'Like' Firing People - & why you can't un-ring that bell

[mac56]

43. "You don't have to enjoy firing people to enjoy the benefit of knowing that your employees

try to do good work to avoid being fired."

In other words, I don't really have to guide or assist or mentor them. I can just scare the $&*# out of them instead. Ahh, feels good. Easier than working!

"And a president might like the fact that his authority over terrible weapons gives him a strong negotiating position and a strong deterrent capability, even though he would hate the idea of actually dropping a bomb."

In other words, I really don't need that weenie diplomacy stuff, I can just let them think I'm going to bomb the $&*# out of them. Thank you, Mr. Bush.

"If you could 'fire' your insurance company and easily go somewhere else, maybe they wouldn't suck as much."

You don't "fire" a service provider or supplier. You cancel your contract and find a new provider or supplier. You "fire" a subordinate. Mittens' unintended point is that he sees them as subordinates. They don't work WITH him, they work FOR him. And he can "fire them". Ahh, feels good.

You are going to great lengths to defend the indefensible, to justify the unjustifiable, to retro-fit an undeniably tone-deaf and elitist statement. Is Mittens your cousin or something?