As for myself, it was precisely the facets of office life that had no bearing on the job at hand, and conceptual hypocrisy like what I've described that led me to decide the corporate world isn't for me, and I struck out on my own. Nothing but my performance (and the level of demand in the market) has any effect on my compensation. Customers relate to you in a much purer, less political fashion as a contractor. If the work you did works, you're OK, here's your check. Very clean, and based on only proper factors.
The guy at the second place always presented himself as a big free-market conservative, abhored excessive regulation, etc, etc. But he was all for government projects whose beneficiaries he liked. For example, he was a big sports fan, and he was incensed that anyone would oppose municipal funding for a new pro baseball field. My attitude was that if there were a market for a pro baseball team in town, building a field would justify itself. Why should the taxpayers subsidize businesses whose business model is inadequate to the circumstances? So I always though of him as a faux conservative, or at least a fuzzy minded one. I recently learned that he was a big Obama supporter in 2008. Finally showing his true colors I guess.
I certainly am in agreement with you.
A fatalistic attitude permeates the workers in our country. It's the frog in the pot syndrome, the water being hot enough to be uncomfortable but not yet cooking the frog. Partly to blame is the specialization of skills needed for employment today. The hidden cost is evident in the inability to change and adapt to current circumstances. This leads to despair and at times rage. We have all heard about such events in the news.
The knowledge that one could change their own circumstances is foreign to many who are quick to complain about their lot in life. Who's fault is that? Education has always been a path to improving ones position but I fear, that due to the necessary specialization needed in today's world, an important lesson has been left out. That lesson being how to jump out of the pot. Perhaps the extra effort put forth into furthering ones career should be dropped in favor of gaining skills needed for starting ones own business or perhaps changing ones vocation.
I think, Still Thinking, that we both would rather work with a person who is aware of their own worth and empowered to change their circumstances.