Why are we so mean?
Why has being mean the default action when people or firms are pursuing their agenda.
Corporate America raises expectations to achieve growth goals yet provides fewer resources in pay and benefits to keep costs in line. If the goals are missed, leadership implements layoffs or outsourcing to meet the expectations. Shareholder value is sacred, while stakeholders are fodder for leadership to achieve goals
Private Equity firms and Hedge Funds buy healthy firms with the plan of sucking out all the equity built by the employees then discarding the carcass like hyenas on the Serengeti. I witnessed the activity once the lack of empathy is appalling. One person installed by the PE firm openly bragged about the number of people she fired over her career. She never considered the people, just the numbers on the spreadsheet.
Medical Residents often work 100 weeks and suffer sleep deprivation as they try to work through becoming a doctor. Do you want your serious medical condition evaluated by a sleep deprived doctor?
Read any social media timeline, and you will see numerous examples of people with differing viewpoints are immediately labeled as some form of a terrorist. When did we lose the ability to debate civilly and compromise?
Lastly, why are we treating our only option for life, the earth, like a dumpster? Single-use plastic is killing wildlife, especially the oceans. Many regions don’t have clean drinking water. The Amazon is being destroyed for economic development. Climate change is melting the ice caps.
Mother Nature is rebelling through wildfires, droughts, and intense storms to remind all of us that she is in control and the planet will do just fine if the human race disappeared. Maybe the recent megadrought in the western regions of the US and hurricanes in the gulf is a sign that Mother Nature started the cleanup process.
The world would be a better place if we stopped being mean to each other and especially to our home. Start today. It’s not that hard to be nice.