The Pinch of Salt

You are to know the bitter taste of others’ bread, how salt it is, and know how hard a path it is for one who goes descending and ascending others’ stairs. – Dante Alighieri

Written in reference to a life of exile, the above quote takes on another meaning for me when I think about the politics of grievance and the concurrent emergence of an American oligarchy. I found this quote and saved it several weeks ago, prior to the horrific most recent event where corporate executives were the apparent target of a mass shooting. When coupled with the targeted murder of a corporate healthcare CEO not long ago, there seems to be a need to explore the relationship between the two.

Slang usage of the word “salty” when referring to someone typically means they’re bitter, angry or aggrieved in some manner. It can also mean that someone is angry specifically because they have been proven wrong about something.

Politicians on both sides have sought to blame the opposing side for people feeling like they were duped when they placed their faith in those who occupy positions of political power. But there’s a unique condition on one side, where it’s apparent that political power is amassed in direct proportion to the amount of economic advantage given to corporations and corporate elites. This dynamic seems to create a disturbing paradox, where those most aggrieved by government are choosing the side that willingly takes the capacity for change away from government and into the hands of those with no vested interest in the general welfare of the people. As the power and political influence of corporations expands and priorities shift further away from the people, the saltiness of having ridden that metaphorical escalator to the bottom is more apparent than ever.

Corporations are not inherently wrong or evil, but giving them unfettered access to our politicians and our system of government while expecting things to improve socially is inherently wrong-headed. That’s not what corporations exist to do. They exist to make money, and find more ways to make more money for their shareholders while not breaking the law. Often they provide a valuable product or service; but that cannot substitute for the altruistic foundations of public service, where those in power are charged with the care of our populace without motive to profit from it. Corporations and their executives are not to blame for their inherent opportunism; it’s the foundation of capitalism as we know it. We’re the ones who need to choose better leaders; those who know where to separate economic opportunism from public service.