All politics is bad, says Coinbase
themargins.substack.com
themargins.substack.com
I guarantee that "no politics" uses the modern definition of the word "politics," which doesn't include the process of governance and the creation of laws. Is Coinbase saying that they refuse to lobby, and will not be writing checks to politicians?
Crypto currencies are political! One of the most commonly cited reasons for using it is to avoid government scrutiny and intervention. So how on earth could Coinbase operate a workplace free of politics?
What they mean is that politics they don't want to talk about is bad at work. And they get to decide what those topics are. Which, to be honest, I'm not as wound up about as others are. But "no politics" sounds like a neutral, objective statement. It isn't anything of the sort.
I'd phrase it as "all personal politics are bad at work"
Your personal politics around parties, constitutional issues, housing, healthcare etc are irrelevant to the company and an active distraction to your coworkers. So keep them for personal time.
I don't know why this is such a challenge for the US work cohort. You don't sit and do crafting hobbies at your work desk, or process photos that you took on the weekend trail expedition. So why use company time for your politics? Why do you think Bob from Accounts has any interest in your views on the size of the President's hands?
I worked for 15 years at a company that had two over-riding rules: no sports talk and no politics. And it was bliss.
> Your personal politics around parties, constitutional issues, housing, healthcare etc are irrelevant to the company
As someone who moved to the US: of course my opinions around healthcare are relevant to my company, because they provide my healthcare! It's an insanely stupid system in America, but it's the system that exists. Healthcare then bleeds over into things like marriage equality, because that can decide whether your loved ones get health coverage or not. And into maternity/paternity leave for the same reason, and because the federal government mandates no minimums for either, giving companies another wedge of power in personal lives.
That's why CEOs saying "politics" shouldn't get involved is tone deaf at the least. The CEO's politics are already involved in my life! If it was paired with the CEO campaigning for universal healthcare because they don't want to be involved in my personal life I'd give it at least some credit, but somehow it never does.
Politics is the negotiation of power. If you have a change in mind, either you seek to negotiate with power or you’re okay with someone else doing it for you, whatever that means.