The Little People

Originally Posted Wednesday, January 8, 2014

I have little time this morning.  I have to sit on a panel presentation to the workers explaining the new policies and procedures that are being enacted because of a new state law that goes into effect this year. I will sit with a group of the minor wizards.  We will give the word to the little people. 

That is how these things seem to me, anyway.  I hate hierarchies.  I hate them when I am low on them, of course, but even when I'm not, they don't seem to me to be a good idea.  Someone has to take responsibility for a decision, sure, but it needn't always be the same person.  After awhile, people at the top let themselves develop a "little people" attitude.  Sure, they say, we love the little people.  We came from them.  But now that they have assumed the "bigger picture," all the petty concerns of those down the hill seem. . . well. . . just petty.  And then the patriarchal look and the cold patriarchal smile are assumed (passive voice here because it really is passive often enough) and then the constrictions on how much time you can give to any one of the munchkins (it seems it is always the ones with the most irritating ideas who take up most of your time), and then a desire to have meetings with your select team and other people at the top.  I mean, who's driving the bus?  Someone's got to drive, right?  Everyone can't drive the bus. 

But that horse shit.  Everyone can drive the bus.  And you can't believe how well they do it.  And that's the fear, of course, that anyone can do what you are doing at the privileged top.  Anyone.  They may not do it in the same way or have the same kinds of success (which are mostly manipulated lies anyway) as someone else, but the privileging of one person over another has more to do with personality than achievement if all the given prerequisites are equal. 

It is what I try to be on constant guard against.  I keep in mind the university study (I think it was Stanford) that divided volunteers into guards and prisoners.  There were no bars, just lines on the floor. The guards were in charge of the prisoners, deciding when they ate, got exercise, etc.  It was a two week study that had to be ended after one week because the guards were becoming too abusive.  True dat.  Everyone knew it was a study, and still. . . .

I am going to use this early morning panel as a chance to show off a jacket and a scarf.  I have not been dressing cleverly for man years now.  It is time, I think, to do so once again.  I need to cut a figure. . . you know. . . to let the little people know. . . .