Something that's been puzzling me about office politics.

[Misinformed01]

The last two departments that I've been in have had the same dynamic; The planners, architects, GIS people, and other assorted "professionals", are all mostly anti-Bush and quite Liberal socially. Many are much farther Left economically (Than most DU'ers it seems) as well.

But, the BIG "but", the executive assistants, office managers, secretaries are all mostly, "Viva Generallisimmo el Busho!", and Rushbots.

All self identified Republicans.

Why is this? They would be what one might readily called "labor", not management or a "professional", yes?

Well a friend of mine has a theory that may explain it: These types of offices are in public institutions so while these women (Yes, rightwing, anti-abortion, and admited ethnocentrically prejudiced) are in subserviant roles they're also highly egotistical, and judgemental, due to the nature of the job.

So they mesh well with taking "orders" (They need that aparently) but they also have an inordinant lust for personal power over people through activities like ordering materials, berating those (The staff) that don't sign out, and feeling supior to the general population at large that must bow before them with applications and requests.

Maybe that's all bullshit, but what do I know, I'm just one of those moronic Lefty planners that idiotically wants to empower everyone, not just selected ethnicities, sexes, etcetera...

So why do you think that the secretaries (And other support staff) are all Pinochet goose-steping facistic wannabees?


EDIT: CRAP! This is Jan Michael not my lovely bride of one entire year Stephanie (Misinformed01)

[Racenut20]

1. Protection of the turf around them

Like your dog running animals out of his yard. Mother bear and her cubs, etc. etc. As long as you are not a threat you are ok.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. They're the "strivers"

Small businesspeople fall into the same category -- they think the world depends on their Atlas-like efforts, and they drink deeply of the Libertarian/Work Ethic Kool-Aid. They're the ones who are always complaining -- and blame everybody else for having a "victim mentality"! They are the mouthpieces for Personal-Responsibilitism.

It allows them to sit in judgment of us mere mortals.

The "professionals" have more education, and understand that luck plays a big role in success, too; the actual power-wielders know better than their factotums, and are usually more to the left, as well. The poor are more left-wing because they have no chance with conservatism; and the working class is usually divided between the progressives, and those in love with being able to swing the whip.

It's the Managerial class that enforces the rules and acts as the priesthood for the dominant moral system. Marx called them the "Petty Bourgeoisie". George Bush, with his MBA and his Left Behind pop theology fits comfortably into that system. Which is why so many people perceive him to be a puppet rather than an actual puppeteer.

If it sounds like we're just a bunch of monkeys who have learned not to fling poo around -- you're right.

--bkl

[Warpy]

3. What have the Democrats offered them?

People making relatively low wages have been hit especially hard by the stupid economic bungling of the past 30 or so years. The Dems have offered the illusion of a boom time that offered full employment but no improvement in wages. The GOP has offered them a return to the past (the wrong past) plus a tax cut to get them there. That it's been a bait and switch is lost on them.

The DLC led Democrats have simply got to put economic issues back on the table. For instance,the poverty formula assumes 1/3 of a family budget is spent on food. Because of inflation in other areas, the food budget is 1/6. That means instead of an $18,000 poverty level, we'd be at nearly $36,000 and that means most of those right wing office drones are living in poverty! That $18,000 is DESTITUTE, not poor. What have the Democrats done about that? NOTHING!

The reason they're all goosestepping is that they see the only relief on the horizon comes from tax cuts. They know they're not going to see any action from the Democrats on raising their wages or restoring benefits!

[LoZoccolo]

4. That's why they turned out in droves to vote for Kucinich in the primary.

Oh hey wait a second...

[Warpy]

5. Kucinich was a fringe candidate with no party support

meaning no DLC support. The only other non DLC candidate was Dean, who managed to do an end run around the DLC and build his own organization outside the party structure. Kucinich tried to run within it and got absolutely no party support.

If you enjoy losing elections, by all means walk in lockstep with the right wing DLC.

This year is an aberration. Kerry will likely win because Bush is a monster, not because people are enthusiastic about Kerry.

2006 will see a return to losing elections if Kerry is DLC business as usual, screw working people.

[LoZoccolo]

7. Nobody stopped Kucinich from running or debating.

Or appearing on television. If people are so thirsty for his message, I don't know what the party could have done to prevent it from getting out by not "supporting" him (whatever that means).

[LoZoccolo]

9. By the way, I'm not discouraging your support of Kucinich-type issues.

But I don't think you'll get anywhere pretending there's a huge number of people who'll vote for someone like him as so many people have been indoctrinated with Reagan-type doctrines. I think that's where the work needs to be done. It's too easy to blame the party machinery for lack of annunciating a clear, practical, credible message and plan on behalf of some farther-left Democrats.

[SheilaT]

6. Another factor at work here

is that the ones who are supporting Bush have been bamboozled by the rhetoric which tells them "It's your money and you should get to keep it" as well as all the lies about "Death Taxes". I believe the current exemption (meaning how much can be passed free of any tax) is a little above one million dollars these days. Think about it.

It's only some tiny percentage of estates that cross that threshold, and yet your average middle class American has somehow come to believe that his children are going to be starving in the streets because the rapacious government wants to confiscate everything upon his death.

What those supporters of Bush do somehow instinctively know is that they are paying the lion's share of the taxes, but not for the reasons they think they are. Not because of "welfare queens" or out of control tax and spend Democrats. Not, it's because of a horrendously bloated military budget (we spend more than the entire rest of the world combined) and the fact that taxes have been shifted from the wealthy and from corporations to the middle class.

[mitchum]

8. The Bush-lovers in the office belong to The Walter Mitty Wing...

of the GOP

[lapislzi]

10. one word in your post sums it up

"wannbees."

Again and again and again this group (and pardon me for making generalizations here, and feel free to tear me apart if you believe I deserve it) of essentially working-class folk are persuaded to vote contrary to its own best interest by the politics of the wedge.

I see it in my own office. And for sure I don't understand it. How someone can come from an identical background to my own--working class, paycheck-to-paycheck, bootstrap-heaving--and go over to the dark side. I call it the "FUJIOK" mentality. F--- you, Jack, I'm OK. For whatever reason, some people absorbed this idea. I didn't.

It's easier, of course, to practice the politics of divide and rule when people are economically vulnerable. Not half a paycheck from disaster necessarily, but aware of how bad things could get. Aware that their privileged (such as it is) status could evaporate at any moment. It's easy to manipulate people when they're thinking this way.

[sadiesworld]

11. Less intelligent, creative, educated, empathetic.

my 2 cents.

[Darth_Kitten]

12. I'm a leftie office person......

hardly a subservient type of person, just a gal trying to make some cash. I am pro-choice, feel superior to MY so-called "superiors" in the office, am generally open-minded and well-meaning. I don't bully or berate anybody (okay, so I smacked someone silly in an office setting before, but I just lose it, so there.) :D

I think everything depends on the person, not the position. Though I believe any person who is miserable and pissed off with the world in general is more likely to be a freeper. ;)

[Zomby Woof]

13. LOL

I knew it must have been you. I was thinking Stephanie did not go from bartender to an extra in "Office Space" any time recently.

You have some validity there. Our CEOs are all Repuke greedheads who think Bush is just a-okay and swell by them. Although one admin assistant I am on good terms with hates Bush, and has anti-Bush stickers on her car. She has a master's in biology with extensive environmental science experience. There may be a few anti-Bush/pro-Dems scattered here and there. But I was taken aback that one of our reservations agents - who make squat - is a Republican. Saving grace: She loved the Moore film, and is not voting for Bush.

[JPJones]

14. George Bush - hero to the stupid. nt