ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > November > 20 > Entry

Work and Politics

By Len Rothman | Monday, November 20, 2006, 08:16 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

We’ve sold out!!!

We don’t talk politics at work! We think it’s off limits! We think that how we vote is our private business. We think ONLY we know unless we tell someone.

I was listening to the returns two weeks ago, when a news commentator showed a circle graph of the voting percentages by republican, democrat, independent, libertarian, etc, for individual candidates. THEY (political parties, TV news shows, etc.) knew exactly how we voted and for whom! I thought, “How crazy it that?” There’s nothing private about politics!

So we go along “the road MORE traveled.”

The more we don’t talk about almost anything at work, the more we’re isolated and potentially influenced by the message. It’s the old Mushroom Theory of Management … keep all employees in the dark and feed them “waste.”

Candidates (parties) talk (trash) to and about other candidates (parties) all the time … AND we don’t talk politics? Crazy, again!

Let’s talk politics!! … I think what happened two weeks ago was TERRIBLE … no GREAT … no …! Oops!

What happens in your office when people talk politics? What’s happened to you? What do you do versus what you’d like to do?

Where and with whom can and can’t you talk politics?

The 30th US President, Calvin Coolidge, is quoted as having said, “No man ever listened himself out of a job.” Interesting, huh?

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Comments

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By David

November 20, 2006 10:56 AM | Link to this

It is only taboo in my workplace if you are a Republican. Democratic views are acceptable. If you have Republican views, it is best that you remain silent as I do…

By Mikey C

November 20, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this

REI doesn’t allow political talk, unless it’s all left of center or totally socialist in nature. If you happen to even hint at being moderate or conservative in their midst you are immediately considered an outcast. My short stint with them, and their oppressive attitude towards anything but their way of thinking, made it the worst place I have ever spent time as an employee.

As for them seeing this? Big deal, they know what they are.

By Cletus Snow

November 20, 2006 12:31 PM | Link to this

Politics have no business in the workplace. We have a sign on the door NO SMOKING NO POLITICS. We don’t have many rules where I work no smoking,politics,romance,pay discussions,mostly common sense stuff,it’s a very good place to work.

By frank

November 20, 2006 1:42 PM | Link to this

Politics in the workplace are not accepted unless you are a democrat…funny how the party of diversity simply will not allow a different opinion, it’s just easier to say nothing at all. That’s okay, republicans, by nature, are more prone to handle their work than huddle around someon’s cube and attempt to repeat whatever political views Frank Ski spewed on the work commute.

By GRACE

November 20, 2006 1:52 PM | Link to this

I agree with the earlier comment. The Dem’s are very vocal in the office. One of the things I don’t understand is one of the Republicans in my office is so poor. She spends half of her work day on the phone with her creditors. She is constantly begging for a dollar here and there. I never thought about politics as being a black or white issue. I view Dem’s & GOP as being rich or poor. I just don’t see how anyone can punch a time clock and be Republican. I wish I had the funds to vote for the GOP but I don’t.

Please spare me the conservative religious talk that the GOP is suppose to stand for. I believe in KARMA. I believe the reason the GOP has had so many sex scandals this year is because of what they put Clinton through. Impeachment for having an affair with an consenting ADULT.

By frank

November 20, 2006 2:13 PM | Link to this

Grace Clinton was impeached for lying under oath to a grand jury…it’s called perjury. And as far as your views being rich vs. poor, I see the media has done well on you. It’s actually about personal responsibility vs. looking for someone’s hand to hold onto. It’s those views of life that potentially lead one to being rich or poor. See how that works? It’s the difference between someone busting their hump because they want to outshine their co-workers or one saying “they don’t pay me enough to stay past 5:00. If they want me to do more work, they better pay me more…we should form a union.” Guess who’s more likely to become rich?