They’ve been institutionally captured for awhile. It’s just is what it is. Easier to play the word games and be polite than risk livelihoods for basically silly reasons. Eat the shame and sell out to keep the lights on.
In the months leading up to the Russia's october revolution in 1917, citizens learned that it was much easier to just wear the badge of support for the revolution than be publicly harassed and ostracized by supporters. This passivity is what ultimately allowed the bolsheviks to gain power to in Russia's government and helped kick off events that plunged the country into decades of famine and misery. while the context and scenario here is different, 'eating the shame' is a very slippery slope.
I've heard. Just doing my small part to point out the obvious, and and melt a little snow as this ball keeps picking up mass on its downward roll.