Businesses already ARE political
When the system favors them, the politics are invisible
We’ve all heard this, “I just don’t want to be political.”
The only people who have the privilege of saying that are already so privileged in the system that their politics are invisible.
If this is a new concept for you, sit with it a bit and let that sink in.
And, no, don’t “Well, actually…” or “Yes, but…” me on this.
There are only three arrangements when it comes to the relationship between a system and a party (person or group) that operates in the system:
- the system is favorable to the party;
- the system is neutral; or
- the system is antagonistic to the party.
In both cases 1 and 2, the system is effectively favorable to the party. A system is always either for or against a particular party.
There is no such thing as being non-political.
This is as true for individuals as it is for businesses.
So, when a business says they don’t want to get political, here are a few ways to translate that:
“The system is already working great for us and we’re not going to risk that by fighting for the system to be more equitable for everyone.”
“We don’t want to lose money from people who are privileged by the system and would be upset if we fight for a more equitable system.”
“These people fighting for a more equitable system are not important enough to us to risk the benefits we already enjoy under the system.”
Now, here’s the thing: When the system operates by disadvantaging, exploiting, or depriving a group within the system of their human rights, and you benefit by participating in that system, you benefit from the exploitation or deprivation of that group.
Own that. And then ask yourself again whether you want to take the position that you “just don’t want to get political.”
