Breaking the Silence
Hello, Mr. President
At different points, I’ve worked with 30 Fortune 100 CEOs. I believe 90% of them wake up in the morning, look in the mirror, and think, “Hello, Mr. President.” These are talented, confident, tall (we’re a highly looksist nation) people, who surround themselves with supporters who are damn impressed with their genius.
But the key attribute of leadership is doing the right thing when it’s hard. Really hard. It’s difficult for CEOs to speak out as the U.S. president demonstrates a willingness to declare war on everyone, all at once. Best just to keep calm (i.e., quiet) and carry on. There’s a powerful quote attributed to a German theologian: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” In this case, business leaders are saying their fear and idolatry of the dollar trumps all.
Their silence is cowardice.
Mob Boss
Similar to a mob boss, the president has created an incentive system to keep everyone in line. Donating $1 million to his inauguration fund, nodding politely, publishing a (bullshit) press release about a “massive” investment in domestic manufacturing, and staying quiet is the way to go … if you know what’s best for you and your economic interests. I’ve heard firsthand that CEOs at the biggest companies agree — in private — that Trump’s policies are dangerous and stupid. In public, they cower. They keep their heads down and their knees bent, fearing retribution or hoping to profit.
The fastest-growing, and possibly most dangerous, class in America is what I’d label the Transnational Oligarchs (“Togarchs”). The Togarch has no use for the government once Uncle Sam’s check has been cashed. The charging stations are built, and the government-sponsored technology is already stitched into their offering. The rule of law, regulation, tax system, and public infrastructure that paved the way for their billions is now a liability for their “genius” — an obstacle to paying no taxes or worrying about the damage their product(s) levy on others. They have little vested interest in the things the government does or why it requires their tax dollars. Their wealth, comparable to that of a nation state, yields its own sub-infrastructure: private schools, health care, security, and rights. Overturning Roe v. Wade or rounding people up poses no threat to them. If shit gets real, and someone in their life becomes pregnant or people show up with pitchforks, no bother. The Togarch will always have access to mifepristone or residency in Dubai, London, or Milan. In sum, they’re no longer Americans. The Togarch class is growing and slowly co-opting Fortune 500 CEOs to join their ranks.
Just Do It
These corporate titans are not only doing the wrong thing but bypassing an economic opportunity. The first CEO who forcefully and publicly resists Trump could reap significant benefits, both reputationally and commercially. Leadership springs from unexpected places, but from a pure brand perspective, the biggest commercial opportunity rests with the CEO of an iconic American brand (e.g., Apple, Nike, P&G, Walmart). You can make a case for Walmart, which gets about 60% of its imports from China (down from 80% pre-Covid). But Nike is even better positioned to push back. Tariffs are threatening to hobble Nike’s effort to revitalize its brand and reverse a decline in sales, with the company making a large share of its footwear in China and Vietnam. Nike, famous for innovation, high-profile endorsements, and breaking barriers, is suddenly uncool. Its market value has tumbled more than 60% from a 2021 high.
Nike is especially well positioned as … it has less to lose. This is not a time for the swoosh to be timid and stay the course. Being bold is in Nike’s DNA. Exhibit A: Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49er who refused to stand during the national anthem to raise awareness about police brutality against Black Americans and racial injustice more broadly. Conscious of the potential brand damage, Nike reportedly almost dropped him. Instead, the company in 2018 chose the outcast quarterback as its spokesperson for the 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” campaign, thrusting it into the national spotlight, sparking an outcry, and driving some sports fans to set fire to their sneakers in protest. It was a disaster … for Nike’s critics. The company’s sales surged by more than 30%. This wasn’t reckless. It was genius.
Nike did the math. They knew they’d piss off right-wing conservatives. But they also knew they didn’t matter. Nonwhites made up a greater share of Nike’s customer base than of the population at large. Most of the company’s consumers were younger than 35 and lived outside the U.S. Few of these people thought America had race relations right. Nike shrewdly concluded that gains to its brand would dwarf any downside. The people who burned Nikes likely had to go out and buy their first pair.
Gangster Move
Nike’s CEO shouldn’t bring a knife to a gun fight. He should weaponize one of the great creative teams in consumer history and fire up the company’s storytelling machine — outstanding marketers supported by world-class creative firms including Wieden+Kennedy. What could be more effective than a message of resistance showcasing American values through the lens of sport — the role of immigrants, teammates, fair play, and international competition?
The first large American company to go out on a limb and do this successfully will attract huge amounts of goodwill from consumers, manufacturers, and partners at home and abroad. This is Nike, Walmart or Apple’s prize to lose. But it could be captured by other leaders, including Satya Nadella at Microsoft or Marc Benioff at Salesforce — their iconic brands are built on American values. They shouldn’t wait. The advantage will erode sharply for the second and third CEOs who follow. The risk has been overstated. The Trump army is divided, and it’s got more bark than bite, snapping at every dog in the park. Does anybody take him or his threats seriously any more?
Turbulence
Given the rising stress levels in corner offices across America, we may be nearing a turning point. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin noted on April 23 that no brand in the world could compare with U.S. Treasuries, given the strength of the dollar and the nation’s creditworthiness, but that Trump’s tactics had eroded America’s reputation (a point I’ve been making for weeks). And Jamie Dimon, one of Wall Street’s most influential figures, has raised concerns about tariffs, warning about long-term damage to America’s credibility. But dancing around the issue and feebly highlighting the “considerable turbulence” facing the economy, Dimon looks like he’s auditioning to become the next Treasury secretary rather than filling the leadership vacuum.
For now, the most meaningful conversations are happening behind closed doors. On the public stage, CEOs are shrinking from the fight. Disney’s settlement in December in Trump’s defamation case against ABC News — approved by CEO Bob Iger — had a chilling effect. The company agreed to donate $15 million to Trump’s future presidential foundation and museum and an additional $1 million for his legal fees instead of fighting a case they would have won. They were afraid of Trump, not the law.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, meanwhile, referred to “landscape changes,” and “uncertainty about how certain things that are close will proceed forward,” among other euphemisms, in discussing the bank’s financial results and outlook earlier this month, as the New York Times reported. Executives steered clear of mentioning Trump directly or using the word “tariff.”
This marks the end of an era that never was: the era of “stakeholder capitalism.” The notion that businesses have a responsibility that extends beyond their shareholders to society at large. I’ve served on seven public, and dozens of private, company boards. Spoiler alert: This is, and always was, bullshit. The CEO/board has only one group of stakeholders in mind: shareholders.
Voice
If Nike or any other corporation needs inspiration, they should look at Harvard, which ought to win the award for best brand decision of the year after becoming the first American university to officially resist Trump’s vow to “reclaim” elite schools.
Harvard sued the Trump administration earlier this week, fighting back against its threats to cut billions of dollars in research funding after the institution said it would defy the White House’s demands to limit activism on campus. Alan Garber, its president, wrote in a public letter that “no government — regardless of which party is in power — should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.”
The only testicles in sight in the government appear to be possessed by women (you know what I mean). Senator Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican who hasn’t been shy about challenging Trump, showed how it’s done last week at an event in Anchorage. “We are all afraid,” she said. “I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real. And that’s not right.” But, she added, “that’s what you’ve asked me to do. I’m going to use my voice to the best of my ability.”
Janet Mills, the governor of Maine, who has consistently clashed with Trump over a state anti-discrimination law that allows transgender athletes to participate in girls’ and women’s sports, has also refused to give in. When Trump threatened to pull funding from her state earlier this year, Mills responded: “See you in court.”
The markets are in turmoil, and we’ve turned on our allies for no discernible benefit … but thank God a 14-year-old transgender girl isn’t playing volleyball in rural America. When did America get this fucking stupid and cruel?
Brick in the Fascist Wall
The pursuit of money at the expense of freedom is a common thread that runs through some of the darkest periods of history. The first year of Adolf Hitler’s reign was a crucial period in which German businesses could have resisted his regime. Instead, as scholars have documented, some provided key financial support for the Nazi party. Others became complicit in Hitler’s crimes, driven by fear, greed, or antisemitism.
Few leaders took Hitler seriously, and those who worried about antisemitism believed it wouldn’t affect “the kind of people I know,” as Northwestern professor Peter Hayes told Fast Company last month. Hayes is skeptical American businesses will behave any differently today in response to Trump. Based on the lack of courage we’ve seen so far from corporate America, it’s difficult to rebut that point.
Leadership is doing the right thing even when it’s hard. Not becoming another brick in the fascist wall. Standing up to the administration’s policies may be painful in the short term, drawing rage from the president and his team of clowns and enablers, but it presents an enormous opportunity over the longer term for Nike, Walmart, Microsoft, Apple, or some other household American brand. It’s never the wrong time to do the right thing.
When do we stop being so stupid and afraid? When do we show some courage, even if it involves risks to shareholder value? When do we nod to the sacrifice others before us have made? When do the Americans show up?
Life is so rich,
P.S. If you missed my conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, you can listen on Apple or Spotify or watch it here on YouTube.
You know a lot about a lot of things, but much of what you write is only opinion. That may or may not have a sound basis, in spite of your command of written English. And when you start supporting – overtly or subtly – transgenders playing women’s sports, you’re out of touch with the way most people in the world see things. Don’t pretend you’re any more caring or knowledgeable than others when you push this agenda. Stick to the things you actually know something about.
Democrats are polling at about 25% approval, per CNN and NBC. Leading candidate in current DNC polling is Harris, even as she ran an awful campaign and blew through $1B+. New DNC Chair agrees that they lost the last election because of ‘racism’. What to do? Go back to the old standard, call the other guy a ‘fascist’ and invoke ‘Hitler’ memes. You could look at a map of Presidential vote winner BY COUNTY in the US and notice that Harris won the areas doing well in CURRENT economy. But, you won’t. How did we elect someone like Trump? Simple, the majority of Americans in key areas voted against Harris and Walz. Why are the ‘educated’ so ignorant of that simple fact? You lie to the American people for over a year on the condition of Joe Biden, you ignore 10 million illegals clogging up cities and social services. Even a totally biased media could not help the DNC cause. The media and the Democratic voters are mad at the wrong people Look in the mirror for the enemy.
C Cook, that was well said and unfortunately irrelevant. It isn’t about why he’s president anymore or his policies. Trumps efforts have been fascist in their attempts to burn the status quo, centralize power and suppress dissent. Scott voicing his opinion and encouraging of someone to step up are brave.
Doug’s definition of facist: anything I don’t agree with
Sadly, Nike gutted its world-class marketing communications team a few years back when they brought in a new CEO with a mandate to slash costs and boost profit margins.
Thank you!
You’re the best! Thank you – if only the Republicans could read!
Does the ‘educated’ party really think that insulting people will make them support your candidate?
I was able to read this article and your comment, and I think you’re an moron.
Why are we in this mess? Because people were unhappy with their government and bought the snake oil. How do we fix it?
Simple, we start an A.I movement. NO not artificial intelligence, because this movement does not require much intelligence . We start an ANTI-INCUMBENT movement. They won’t give themselves a term limit, but we can!
Can you imagine the impact if in the mid-terms 60% to 70% of those in office lost their jobs? How long would it take for politicians to figure out that Americans want their elected representative to be leaders who work together for: America first, their constituents second, and their personal gain last.
Spread the word!
I didn’t think you could cry any harder! Haha.
I didn’t think you could cry any harder! Haha. Makes my weekend!
Anybody who is not accepting the grave death spirit we are in is not paying attention. Loss of confidence in dollar, economically attacking entire world at once, masked men taking students off the streets, on and on. And then the blatant crypto grifting kleptocracy.
If this isn’t a 5 alarm fire then what is? Scott, keep pointing this shit out. Like Hitler Trump is a master demagogue. And like Hitler he is a disastrous strategist who can take the entire motherland down with him.
Bravo. Excellent article, excellent advice. Come on, America. It’s time to fight back.
Wow, the comparison with Nazi Germany is stark. Here in Germany, we generally look very closely at the USA. You are our partner and father. The country that made us what we are. A free democracy that sees the bigger picture. We simply look across the pond in amazement and, from a distance, cannot understand what is going on.
Thanks Scott. Great discussions as always. Living in Canada really enjoyed your interview with PM Mark Carney. All the best and Cheers. Alan k
Why was the youtube presentation pulled?
Hey Mr Dei
Try and hold it in?
Insults and one liners don’t make for convincing debate, or even the foundation of one. Happy to read and learn from both sides of the proverbial coin, but you’re just (sound) biting anybody who comments.
Let’s hear it, in calm and normal English please – what’s your argument?
Scott, you finally let the cat out of the bag, admitting your obsession with woke ideology—newsflash, we’ve known you were brainwashed for years! But the real joke? You’re a blatant hypocrite, railing against “unfair capitalism” while pocketing over $100 million from it. You toss around shiny slogans and half-baked concepts, blind to how the left has been scamming us for decades. The people are done with it!
You won’t dare call out Gavin Newsom’s corrupt, incompetent disaster of a regime, which has tanked California—the world’s fourth-largest economy. That alone obliterates your credibility. Instead, you fixate on one man’s rhetoric, ignoring his guts and the brutal choices he’s tackling. Take China—I’ve worked there since the ‘90s, and yes, they’ve been fleecing us economically, just like the Dems have squandered trillions on pointless wars and causes nobody with a shred of sense supports.
You’ll wake up eventually, Scott, just like I did. I was a lifelong Democrat, even voted for Bernie, but the scales fell off. The truth will hit you hard, and when it does, it’ll set you free.
I’ll second’Fred is right’ Scott, your TDS has finally overcome you. Nothing I can say will help clear up your confusion.
Scott, your TDS has finally overcome you. Nothing I can say will help clear up your confusion.
Thank you Scott. Your information is always clear, concise, and accurate. Your views are also courageous and honest, at a time when its easier and safer to play it safe and speak in a whisper to a few close friends. As someone who has been working in the men’s health field for more than sixty years, I also appreciate that you make the connection between wounded and angry men and the kind of masculinity that we see demonstrated by those in power. It is a kind of masculinity that that is weak and wounded, what psychologist Robert Moore termed “monster-boy” masculinity. It isn’t by accident that historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, in her book, Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present says, “Ours is the age of authoritarian rulers: self-proclaimed saviors of the nation who evade accountability while robbing their people of truth, treasure, and the protections of democracy. They promise law and order, then legitimize law-breaking by financial, sexual, and other predators.”
She goes on to say, “They use masculinity as a symbol of strength and a political weapon. Taking what you want and getting away with it, becomes proof of male authority. They use propaganda, corruption, and violence to stay in power.”
Many in the men’s movement have been offering a more mature, caring, and adult masculinity that is good for men, good for women, good for our children and future generations.
For years I have enjoyed your view on retail, but you are now making a grave mistake by using this platform as your biased political outlet. This platform has now turned into a political thrashing and no longer an insightful retail resource. You will be losing me and I assume many other subscribers due to your unfortunate decision.
Agree. Teaching MBAs ‘brand management’, the art of convincing people to buy stuff they likely do not need nor can afford. Oh, and part of the media that excels in holding down the poor so they will continue to be manipulated by ads. Can’t let them save, just stay on the debt treadmill.
This root of this plague is money in politics not corporate passivity. Our death spiral as a democracy is tied to ongoing grift by those who already possess with the biggest share of our nation’s wealth. Trump is the outcome not the cause.
Citizens United allowed unlimited independent political spending by corporations, unions, and individuals, leading to the creation and explosive growth of Super PAC.
Outside group spending rose from $143 m in 2008 to over $2 b per cycle by 2020, a 10x from 2010.
Super PAC money comes from a tiny group of ultra-wealthy donors. Top 100 donors accounted for over $2 billion in Super PAC giving.
Wealth inequality has risen in parallel: the top 1% increased their share of total U.S. wealth from about 34.6% in 2008 to over 40% by 2024
The wealthiest families have seen their net worth multiply several times over, while gains for the middle and lower percentiles have been much smaller
Super PAC spending has been fueled almost entirely by the ultra-wealthy, deepening political inequality
Wealthy individuals have far greater capacity to influence elections and policy through campaign donations, reinforcing both political and economic inequality.Most Americans never contribute to Super PACs; 96% of Super PAC funding in 2018 came from just 1% of donors.
Concentration of political giving by the wealthy is linked to policy outcomes that perpetuate or exacerbate wealth inequality
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Wow, did you get so many things right. Love your courage and clear thinking. You’re rich (say so yourself) and still in your earning years, how come you go out on a limb, be so brave and say the things you do. Where are all the other rich, courageous heads?
I have never voted for Trump but your derangement obsession is unreadable. Consistently comparing him to Hitler is ridiculous.
I greatly appreciate your call outs, and detailing what cowardice looks like, and the tremendous harm that is done by that cowardice. I think, however, that one cannot really capture this fascist threat to the United States and to the world without mentioning the fully bipartisan funding, arming, and direct military support for the ongoing ethnic genocide in Gaza and the ongoing ethnic cleansing of the West Bank. If failing to speak out against Trump is an example of corporate cowardice then at least there is an acknowledgement that there should be people in power stepping up to do so. But when it comes to the plight of the Palestinian people at the hands of the Israeli government, which by extension stains all of our hands, to speak out is to become a target, as so many who’ve lost their jobs, or who have been rounded up and even deported, have found. If the rise of Nazi Germany is a valid a reference point, and I believe it is, then the US role in the genocide in Gaza needs to be said.
Finally coming out and praising Elon for saying the tariffs are dumb even if his opponents deface his Teslas. And are you a Togarch since you absconded to London with the other ‘garchs? as someone who has pointed out the Ivy Leagues are a fat target Trump apparently agrees with you!
Do not be afraid. Be unrelentingly angry. When fear loses its power the reaction of its victims is empowerment and retribution. Witness the fate of dictators such as Mussolini, Gadhaf, and Ceausescu at the hands of their angry countrymen.
Why are you lionizing a company that has made its profits literally on the back of child slave labor abroad? The whole point of Trump’s trade policies are to bring jobs back home for the working class, control inflation and pop the bubble on important essentials like housing and healthcare. And you’re worried about what, the cost of a pair of Nikes?
IF the manufacturing jobs come back to the U. S., Robots are lining up and waiting!
Good read, I appreciate your newsletter. Disagree on Bonhoeffer. He never said that.
But Silence IS consent. Silence is death.
Tell it, Scott. Thanks for a voice of reason.
Gave up on the spinelessness of career politicians long ago, but have always agreed w/your lens on the corporate motivations and the fiscal front, so kept waiting and watching to see when the ‘braver angels’ of commerce would step in and turn this tanker around…
Instead we have oceans of ineptitude and cowardice in CEO circles, when they could unite in a booming roar and instead whimper behind closed doors. You articulated the positive branding implications so concisely and articulately…and as a former ad agency pro I’m shaking my head at the flacid, flatlined response by leaders in ALL industry corridors…as well as legal beagles hoping to be tossed a bone or a biscuit in lieu of a mob boss targeting and takedown. Zero testicular fortitude writ large. Great point on the females speaking out too…as always, your insights often offer me a head bobbing, ‘YES!’ This is one of your best ones yet…
Thank you. Time for the artists like myself to stand up too. We stood up in the 1980s about nuclear weapons, homelessness and AIDS. The images and actions need the creative visual punch. If the artists in Russia (Pussy Riot) and China (Ai Wei Wei) can act, the Americans can too.
The Germans did not foresee the end of WWII. The Americans do not foresee the nuclear war ending the Great American Experiment. Thank you for speaking out.
Thank you. A voice of reason amidst the cacophony of wimpness
Your TDS exposes the distortion of your perspective. Now you want the multinationals to speak up against Trump. Where were they during the last 40 years when the manufacturing base of the US was exported to countries that allowed low cost labor to be exploited with no environmental, labor or child welfare protections? Where were they when they exploited those low wages to undercut the US workers hired by US manufacturers who needed to provide those protections? Where were they when trade/tariff policy left from post WWII supported the collapse of US manufacturing? Where were they when the WEF & the WHO coordinated the experiment in mass hypnosis during the Covid epidemic all around the world to the benefit of Pharma? Where were they when the Biden administration opened the US borders to millions of unvetted illegal immigrants? Where were they when the MSM and US government mandated DEI (racism) and the irrational declaration of multiple genders? Where were they when Leftist indoctrination infiltrated US schools?
You speak so eloquently about how brands should now stand up to Trump when, in fact, he got a strong signal from the US voters that all those things mentioned above needed to be curtailed. Now, in his own flawed way, Trump is standing up against those policies and declaring that common sense, lost from US policy and politics, should guide policy and politics. Trump will do many things wrong, but reversing the trends of the last 40 years is the ‘right thing to do’.
Thank you for resisting the echo chamber. TDS in incurable, truly – the majority of the American people understand what needs to be done, and that it’ll be painful. There is no reconciling with the TDS afflicted folk, we must carry on and complete the mission.
You guys are part of a cult. TDS is not a real thing, it’s criticism of our leader that you can’t seem to bear. Here’s the reality: Trump is not bringing manufacturing back into this country. That ship sailed. It sucked that we sold out our middle class, and yes, both Republicans AND Democrats were responsible.
There were not millions of unvetted immigrants coming in under Biden; that’s a myth. Asylum seekers are people, and we should try to do the right thing by them. Immigrants built this country and are its lifeblood; they commit crimes at lower rates than ordinary citizens. Trump is waging war against universities and immigrants. The “woke agenda” that you people claim exists there is not what is going to be our undoing, but scaring away all of the best and brightest so that they will learn and innovate elsewhere will.
DEI exists so that we take qualified folks for jobs – the primary beneficiaries are women and veterans, not black and brown people. DEI combats exactly what Trump has going on in his administration: the employment of underqualified white men at the expense of competent and qualified people of all races and genders.
There is no leftist indocrination in our schools; it’s open-mindness for freedom and understanding and tolerating others, for critical thinking and examining other ideas.
What J.L. said … and further, the talking points that Stan K. and Dave G. rally around reflect the Q-anon, 4-Chan, FoxNews, Telegram, Joe Rogan, Alex Jones piffle-feed that fed the election. This originated with Trump and his dumpster-fire buddies and proved as virulent as … well, Covid, before the vaccinations were introduced and save millions of lives (you can look it up providing you know how to do real research).
DEI = racial discrimination
Dave, it is untrue that a majority of Amercans understand that what needs to be done and that it’s painful, what they see is the erosion of the rule of law and sending the economy into the toilet in order to honor the ego of a deranged narcissist. I hope that you have tattoos and they claim you are part of MS-13 and ship you away to CECOT. What’s that? You say that you’re not part of a gang and never have been? Good luck arguing that when you have no due process and no chance to have your day in court. That is why we hate Trump: because that is the America he is creating. If he finishes the job, almost all of us will suffer. Not the Togarchs, though. Are you worth 9 or more figures?
Just a simple thanks. As my three-year old granddaughter says “good job!”
You’re asking for CEOs of companies to intentionally do harm to the shareholder value (aka my retirement nest egg that I spent a lifetime building) which they are required to protect. My question to you is what is the responsibilities of the politicians that we elected? The three branches of government… What is the responsibility of the other two branches?
Just replace the word “we” with “ politicians” into your last paragraph: When do “POLITICIANS” stop being so stupid and afraid? When do “POLITICIANS” show some courage, even if it involves risks to RELELECTION value? When do “POLITICIANS” nod to the sacrifice others before us have made? When do the Americans “POLITICIANS” show up?
politicians do what they believe their constituents want. as long as we elect wimps, our congress will be filled with cowards.
Politicians do what their funders want, not what their constituents want.
CEOs have a really hard time leading outside of their tunnel vision of the company. Employees, customers, and investors need to put more direct and explicit pressure on them so they know that’s what they are expected to do – and they will have support from their key stakeholder groups that keep things running even in the face of real pressure and threats from the government.
” When do the Americans show up? ”
Americans show up when it comes to the almighty dollar. When stock market fluctuations become a little to uncomfortable or the bond market, takes a hit, CEOs start mumbling that ridiculous and unpredictable tarrifs may not be the right road.
All our supposed American values can be distilled down to one value which is ‘Optimizing Shareholder Value’. This should be our America’s official motto instead of ‘whateverthefuckitis”.
Scott is obsessed with Trump. SAD…
You’re the Scott who comes back and back from exploring. Thanks. I’m an artist in New York. No one’s constituent. I’m so used to the hedging, lying, getting back to me, answering properly, it’s the fat and fatuous of conciliation, fear, vanity & the envy that leads to murder that only making money can soothe – for a hot minute, & then “the next whiskey bar.” ever S Again
Great piece and one I’ve been long harping on…..add to this the corporate capture at the Legislative Level in Congress and beyond the companies are the capitalist funding groups like Blackrock, Vanguard, State Street, etc. that are veils for the even more powerful and influential individuals who hide behind those curtains. The irony when it comes to financial power and wealth, the more you have, the more fearful and risk averse you become. True revolutions begin when people have nothing to lose and, because people are still so comfortable and distracted, we’ve got a ways to go to revolting
Scott for President – might be a little ambitious, but at this point in the world, you certainly should run for something. Pragmatic, sensible about both people and money, and you get shit done. Not just another brick in the wall..we have too many of those.
Great work Scott. If you want to really understand what is going on here read “How Facism Works” by Jason Stanley. This book is so relevant for these times. Trust me you will be shocked by the comparisons on how fascism reared in ugly head in the past and what’s happening under our noses right now. Its a quick read – 2 evenings and you will be “enlightened”
The source of executive silence is driven by money. They resist to speaking out for fear of hurting their stock price. Most of them detest the soulless policies being carried out by Trump. Money is first in modern American enterprise as well as politics. George W Bush did great things to prevent the spread of AIDS in Africa. Now he is mute as the Trump Administration demolishes the program. We are quickly becoming an amoral country. Ugly but true.
Professor Galloway, you MUST run for President. It doesnt’ matter if you win. But I believe, at this moment, you are the only voice with a coherent, honest, compassionate, tough, and courageous message. In every dark age there have been voices that seem to have been born and developed just for that age. I believe that yours is one of those voices for this time. Please run. Get out in front and set the narrative for both left and right.
Consider me a voice from the small-business world: You can and should do this on the local level, even if the big boys are too scared to do this on a national one. We just did it, and our reservations are up when they should be down. Positive to negative responses to a Statement of Values email we sent to 11,000 clients are running almost exactly 100-1 in favor. Total strangers are shaking my hand in the street and at the grocery store. It’s imperative to do this now. We did it regardless of its effect on shareholder value, but it turns out that if shareholder value had been a driver of this decision, it would have been justifiable on those grounds alone. Mark Thistel, FreedomCar, Baltimore MD
Mark, I live in Oregon and have never heard of FreedomCar but felt stirred to courage by your comment. I googled your company’s webpage and read the story there. That is genuinely inspiring. Here’s to character and courage. Onward.
While I appreciate the valid points you raise in this post, I respectfully disagree with certain perspectives that appear to promote divisive or biased viewpoints. Specifically, I find the inclusion of polarizing comments detracts from the overall message.
I value the insights you bring to the discussion and encourage you to focus on the areas where your expertise shines, fostering constructive dialogue without inflammatory rhetoric. By emphasizing shared goals and solutions, your contributions could have an even greater impact.
Galloway is the paradigm stupid smart person. Spare us the drivel and pablum and cut to the chase: “Trump is the modern reincarnation of Adolph Hitler.” Btw, if government has no legitimate business interfering in Harvard administration, then Harvard has no legitimate expectation of receiving $billions in grants from government. Seems pretty obvious (except to stupid smart people).
Except that Harvard in the case of medical research uses the public funds to do research that befits the public at large, and would not otherwise get done.
Same old same old. TDS
This is brilliant and much needed advice!! It should be reposted on every possible platform (with Scott’s approval of course!)
Truer words have never been spoken. It’s eerily silent out there.
Not really a surprise that those who did the most to privatize profits and socialize the risk are looking around the table for someone else to go first. They never expected the game of chairs to end with Trump suddenly holding all the chairs with a price tag of their slavish obedience. “Wait, we are the MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE!” Well funny thing about “let the market decide” is when it’s been consistently rigged it will still decide, just not how they thought it would.
The shock of “the leopard 🐆 are my face!” from the crowd so used to be the devourers is hardly surprising and not terribly satisfying considering it doesn’t much help the rest of us.
Brilliant essay.
Thank you. You make me feel like I’m not insane.
The Fortune 500 built the tax code and they know that messing with it endangers their pay and options packages. They will stay silent. They know that Mercedes and Bayer continued to exist after Nazism. One can never be too cynical when it comes to US CEOs. The biggest change in corporate behavior over the past 50 years is a lack of social conscience. Corporations used to acknowledge that they lived in a greater society. Now it’s just a shareholder cocoon that insulates and provides benefits for the fortunate few (yes, pun intended). The only responsible person on the corporate landscape these days is Warren Buffett, who celebrated making the largest ever tax payment to the USA Treasury. Jamie Dimon would consider that an epic failure. Ironically, Buffett may be the one saving Dimon with his large purchase of Treasury bonds, expressing faith in a system that looks on the verge of collapse. Scott, these people you are urging to do the right thing wouldn’t know right if walked up and gave them a much needed punch in the dick.
You’re spot on, Grumpy. It’s a very deep well we’ve dug and are now all falling into. No one will be spared though some may languish under a delusion they will be come out ‘on top.’ A steady diet of fine wines and gummies can pervert the senses, as the Nazi leaders found out in France from 1941-45. A worthy addition to your list of surviving companies is IBM which worked hand-in-glove with the Nazis to perfect the data collection of Jews entering the camps. Shareholders didn’t find out about it for a long time, but. it. happened. Ain’t capitalizm great?!