The gentleman's name is David G. Wood. I found his article in the November 1963 issue of Harper's magazine, entitled *_"How Businessmen Can Fight Big Governmen - And Win"._* In the article, Wood asks the businessman: _"What honest reason could there possibly be for not informing buyers exactly, in a percentage figure and in dollars and cents, what buying on time is going to cost them?"_ He continues by lamenting that: _"Maybe passage or anotlier law is undesirable - but retailers themselves have shown no inclination to police the situation. Their attitude appears to be, as usual, to get whatever the traffic will bear, which is a remarkable amount if the facts can be disguised well enough."_ It's a long article. For anyone interested, below are some highlights, starting with the introduction and the first few paragraphs: (A steel man suggests that it's time for them to stop bellyaching about creeping socialism and to take some practical, direct steps to fix the weak spots in our society - before Washington has to do it.) _I am weary at hearing fellow businessmen attack big government. I'm even more bored with platitudes about defending the free enterprise system. And the charge that nobody understands the role of profits is just as tiresome._ _The latter was the theme of yet another speech I sat through at a major college campus last June. It was the annual awards banquet of the school of business administration. The speaker was the director of corporate and publlc affairs, whatever that means, of a major home-appliance manufacturer in the Midwest. He was out to convince his listeners that profits are the cornerstone of our society. Why senior students and faculty members in business administration, and businessmen from the surroundingcommunities, should need convincing is a point that escaped me. I guess he was really trying to tell the graduating students to go forth and save our system. The "how" was totally missing, an all too common aspect of these polished, inspirational free enterprise speeches._ _I happen to believe so strongly in our free enterprise system and in the importance of profits to that system that I'm convinced they don't need defending. To do so is to state the obvious. That's why the speeches and the advertisements and the commercials and the house-organ articles are so boring._ _Our economic system is, after all, a human institution. And no human institution I know or has ever achieved perfection. Improvement should be a goal of all businessmen truly intent on preserving the free enterprise system. But we never seem to talk about improvement when we make speeches. This would involve "how?" It would force us to consider methods and programs and objectives. It would be controversial, and businessmen try never to be controversial. Hence, we are boring._ _The director of corporate and public affairs, In his speech at the banquet, cited a typical statistic from Opinion Research, Inc. Sixty-two percent, or something like that, of all Americans think profits are too high. Does this mean proflts are too high? Emphatetically no, said our speaker, profits are dwindling every year. I work for the steel industry and I wholeheartedly endorse that part of his talk. Does it mean that the American people are being misled by educators and journalists into the belief that profits are too high? Despite the fact he was speaking before a considerable number of educators, our speaker implied that this was the case. He managed by a "we know you're with us" gesture to exclude the business administration professors from the leftist teachers who some businessmen are convinced dominate our campuses today._ _At any rate, we were told, we businessmen must somehow overcome the power of the press and the schools and tell the people the truth - that profits are not too high. They are too low. I don't believe the director of corporate and public affairs actually expects us to succeed. Who would invest their money in our corporations if the people did become convinced that profits are too low?_ [ ... ] _The Peace Corps is a marvelous idea, perhaps the best of the Kennedy administration so far, but the young people we send overseas must have skills if they are to be of any service. We businessmen ought to promote and favor any programs which will enhance human skills, even Government programs. Our businesses will benefit eventually, just as they benefit from public education. Providing all the employment and on-the-job training we possibly can, consistent with efficient operating practices, should be the No. 1 goal of our private economy. Then if we still are unable to absorb the 26 million young people in this decade that Mr. Hill talks about, we must stop opposing Federal and State programs. Serving in a Government-sponsored civilian service corps, foreign or domestic, is infinitely preferable to joblessness. Business opposition to a domestic Peace Corps ls the type of irresponsible negativism that causes our fellow citizens to dislike us, ignore us, or both._ _Employment opportunities are not the only kind denied many Americans. Negroes lack so many opportunities that theirs has been a second-class citizenship in a society based on equal citizenship for all. This is wrong, and at long last two branches of the Federal Government - the judicial and executive - are taking meaningful action to assure equal rights for everyone. There appear to be a considerable number of business executives willing to condemn such use of Federal power. Many others (or perhaps they are the same ones) join and finance anti-Communist crusades. Using comparable energy and most likely less money, these same businessmen - through the power they possess in the American economy - could render Government action unneceesary and deliver worldwide communism a staggering blow. Equal status for the American Negro would undermine Communist strategy and propaganda everywhere. This one improvement in our own society could well be enough to turn the tide overwhelmingly in our favor throughout the world. I often wonder why the anti-Communist crusaders don't change into pro-Negro crusaders. They would achieve their goal far sooner than with their present methods._ _I would expect the truly responsible leaders of business and industry, however, to work toward equality for the Negroes simply because it's right. I wish there were more evidence that they are so working. Undoubtedly, more is being done than the public generally realizes. Because the problems involved are potentially explosive, and because they are not concerned with winning votes, businessmen generally shun publicity in endeavors of this kind. All but one of the white business leaders of Birmingham who served on the biracial committee seeking a solution to the city's conflict, before the bombings this fall, refused even to be identified. They feared economic reprisals, a universal concern of businessmen. "What will my customers think?" is a question usually considered carefully prior to political or social activity. It's a shame Mr. Welch didn't ponder it more seriously before he founded the John Birch Society. If he had run true to business form, he might have decided to refrain for fear of offending all the country's Communist candy consumers._ [ ... ] _United States Steel is Birmingham's largest employer and therefore a powerful economic force there. It is a faint praise to point out that under United States Steel's quiet leadership and influence Birmingham is a better city than it would otherwise be. A question that has been repeatedly asked, usually by indignant liberals, is, "Why hasn't John F. Kennedy done more about Birmingham?" Conservatives who truly believe what they preach ought to respond with, "Why hasn't Robert Blough done more about Birmingham."_ _Undoubtedly many business leaders will object to what I have said. Full employment, job training, fair employment practices, equal rights for all our citizens, consumer protection, medical care for retired men and women. I can hear the response of businessmen I know: None of these things is our concern. Our job is to make a respectable profit for our shareholders." To them I say, "Then stop raving about big government." If private citizens with power and influence refuse to concern themselves with improving our society beyond offering new and better products, they have only themselves to blame if their power atrophies. Negativism is not leadership. And that is what the business community all too often exerts._ _Until we businessmen demonstrate some positive leadership in the solution of social and economic problems, I'm afraid the country is better off in the hands of the politicians and their allies, the labor leaders and the intellectuals._
Interesting vid and article. I wonder what Mr Wood would think about the extent to which big business in the current era has embraced his early "stakeholder capitalism" ideas. I submit he'd think things have gone 180° to far. Business and govt haven't ever been some intertwined via "corporatism" ( the Biden regime just loves big business-small biz? Not so much) and ESG.
I worked in the plant of Bethlehem Steel for 11 months in the early 70's. I had 3 close calls with heavy crane lifts, that had I been hit, would've turned me into a gelatinous grease spot. I was constantly amazed at the scale of things there. Everything was huge, immensely heavy, hot beyond imagination. I saw so many lifers, WW II generation guys, limbs missing, a bad limp. I was a young man who was just doing what I had to to get by, amazed I gotnsuch a well paying job for the time. I got a bad case of flu, that imobilized me for well over a week. When I returned to work, I was informed that I was fired. I could've fought it, but my recollection of these close calls, the lifers, being confined to the filth, the macho attitude I had to maintain, was enough to discourage that effort, and chalk it up to a life's experience. I'm glad I had that experience of working there, but I was an artist, with intellect. I just didn't fit in. Life got better and worse, but here I am, retired, with a still sound, healthy body and mind. I appreciate finding this video. This man was way ahead of his time. The powers that be at that time had the militaristic control of a strict hierarchy. Anything that ruffled feathers, be it business or personal, was dealt with severely. This man's heart, compassion, empathy, were a threat, finanacially, and to the company's all-important public image. It is amazing that politically, people like him are viewed as weak, whereas the opposite is true. I'm sure he found another job, did well.
Truer words were never spoken. I'm sincerely sorry that you got fired! The truth is the truth and unlike you, whistleblowers get fired and also revenge. Wrong is wrong! Thank you David for this video!
Incredible how calm, concise, and punctual this man is in explaining his entire situation. When something like this happens today you see people outburst in anger and rage.
This is my favorite RUclips channel. I'm 27 and there is no question what I do when I'm not busy, the first and only thing I do is open the RUclips app and go to this channel and start my binge lol.
As a blue collar worker through the 70s, 60s, 90s if I had any complaints or even asked for a raise I would simple be told, "if you don't like it, go somewhere else". Nothings improved, in fact its gotten worse, the corporations get richer and the workers get poorer. Glad I'm retired.
I can say that's how one job i worked at a warehouse was. 2 years of my life spent there putting in a lot of work and I barely got a raise. The biggest raise I got was from 12 to 15. Than I got one more two dollar raise. $17 dollars wasn't cutting it by the end and I was up for promotion but never got it even though I was doing the work. They still expected me to do the work and never wanted to pay me so I left.
It's really not. 2 years max at some places. No one can or wants to keep up with inflation so if you don't make what you need it's better to move on. Very few places reward long time employees any longer
David, If possible, it would be wonderful to find out what ever happened to the gentleman. In his mind he was just trying to make it better for the future, of the rest of us. But unfortunately nothing has changed
I'd love to know what happened but I kept his release just for short period of time and then lost it in the changing workplace. David Hoffman filmmaker
Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that RUclips is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts. David Hoffman filmmaker
He's a hero for speaking out about this Corporation. Just a correction: you wrote that he dreamed of retiring with a 401k. 401ks didn't exist in 1964; not until the late '70s. But I assume you meant a retirement plan of some kind, probably a pension back then. Once he said he was from U Dub and live in SF I knew he wouldn't be seeing eye to eye with the heads of a Corporate Steel company Still it's crazy he was fired over something relatively minor; just shows that corporate structure is Fascist in nature, so decisions are often made accordingly. David did many people see this clip back then? I hope so!
Thanks! They told him to be quiet he's jeopardizing his career ! He has a family ! That's probly the reason he went against authority to try an make it better for future workers like his own kids maybe!
There's a song called "Little Boxes" that should be the music to this film. It fits like a glove. Very thought provoking, as usual, Mr. Hoffman. Have a great evening!
A true man of virtue, who found his heart spoke louder than the corporate world training and ethos, for him to be of a machine mind and make machines of men, to make riches for the few.
Welcome to America! It's heartening that someone back in the 60s would speak out, bravo! I just hope that the guy who was subject to this documentary piece was able to find something to sustain his family. Corporate America doesn't look kindly on people who defy the lie.
"Go along to get along" Cleveland-Cliffs thanks Bethlehem steel for the Indiana blast furnace they built for them... He had a Harpers-published article, and well on his way to be an enterprise and HR consultant!
Daniel. Unfortunately, I do not know what happened to him. I wish I had kept in touch with all the people that I ever filmed or had anything to do with professionally. David Hoffman filmmaker
@@TheCablebill "How businessmen can fight “big government”-and win" by David G. Wood, November 1963. Likely to be it from the info in the video and the year of filming, though I don't have a script to read. Edit: It looks like 'SOG and Vietnam - Retracing the Past' gives snippets and synopsis elsewhere in these comments.
Just keep the shareholders happy. Make the company more this quarter than the last. But if you get sick or injured at work, you're a trouble maker. Or they make you jump through hoops just to get what is owed to you. My company could improve the air quality in our shop easily. But they choose not to and take the easy way out which the corporate lawyers told them to. Its sickening. Literally.
I worked for TD Ameritrade for a couple of years. My manager used to like to say, “the report doesn’t know you were sick. The report doesn’t know you went on vacation.” To that end, you could technically take time off but you still had to meet the quarterly goals that some data freak had laid out, even if it meant working 12 hour days to make up your kpi’s. I fired them.
Oh it's changed. Read their agendas. That generation got all the goodies whereas we're to be gotten rid of and the children enslaved. The RockyHorrorFellows say so.
Was there ever a time of "free speech"? I doubt it now. But I do understand better now why so many people don't speak up to help the less fortunate. I am not into socialism, just helping the Person next to me.
Corporations are formed to avoid personal financial and social liabilities. But we still support them, and buy their version of the dream. Look at Amazon atm, they make employees kpi so difficult to attain, and when employees blow out their health they let them go without any responsibility or liabilities for necessary care.
And now here we are today. We seem to be getting closer to that cliff and seem frozen to do anything about it. Plenty of people are warning us but we fear to do anything about it. I remember reading Rachael Carson's Silent Spring in high school. I thought how could people be so destructive? Now it all makes sense since all they care about is getting rich at the expense of others. How long do we put up with people who are ready to throw us off the bridge?
I've worked for two major soulless corporations in my life. Then I work for a small mom and pop that became incorporated, I don't know what it is that we become greedy, vein, complicit humans not remembering where we came from once we get a little bit of money. Evil is not logical sometimes
This brought back memories for me of the WTO peaceful demonstration that turned militant in Seattle in 1999. That was when I knew that the corporate entity reigned supreme. Truly a nightmare.
"Goldwatch Blues" Mick Softley, 1965 I went up for my interview on the fourth day of July Personnel man, he questioned me until I nearly cried Made me fill in forms until I shook with fear About the colour of my toilet roll and if my cousin's queer "Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain And your piece of paper to say you left here sane" "And if you've a son who wants a good career Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years" He asked me how many jobs I'd had before He nearly had a heart attack when I answered, "Four" "Four jobs in twenty years, oh, this can never be" "We only take on men who work until they die" "Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain And your piece of paper to say you left here sane" "And if you've a son who wants a good career Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years" He took me outside to where the gravestones stand in line "This is where we bury them, in quick-stone and in lime" "And if you come to work for us, on this you must agree That if you're going to die, please, do it during tea break" "Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain And your piece of paper to say you left here sane" "And if you've a son who wants a good career Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years" This story that you heard you may think rather queer But it is the truth you'll be surprised to hear I did not want no job upon the board I just wanted to take a broom and sweep the bloody floor "Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain And your piece of paper to say you left here sane" "And if you've a son who wants a good career Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years"
Could greed be humanity's downfall in the pursuit of personal wealth? Wealth should be measured by one's contribution to you community and society. "Without Tax Breaks"
I work on Wall Street today and this is still how it is. You make such good money that you just don't have any incentive to complain or care. They try to shit you down and just give you crumbs, even for social things, all they ultimately care about is he bottom line. No matter what.
Boy, does that relate other than the salary and living arrangement. Your govt. agencies have, and do much worse to workers that report or complain about anything relating to their agents, or agencies themselves, even when they are at fault.
It was no accident that the Jack Lemmon character in THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES was a PR man. His father-in-law, played by Charles Bickford, grows flowers and says, “I just can’t understand that kind of work.”
And today? Make a comment on Social Media and see how long you stay employed. The Man has ALWAYS been IN CHARGE, and this is ESPECIALLY TRUE in so called "Right to Work" States. NEVER will The System allow for anything OTHER than The Man to have the IMMEDIATE RIGHT TO SEVERABILITY of YOUR JOB. NEVER. NEVER! Happy Future 4th of Julys, and keep whistling "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" Folks! I
Throughout history same narrative and consequences if questioning the elites. Brave man and woman, with integrity have paid the price. With reflection they probably slowed the consequences of the speed of which these conditions have been implemented on the rest of society, if the rest of us had the guts and integrity to stand with these people, we would not be at the stage we are now. We are all complicit, even by keeping silent. These are the individuals who should be looked up to, these people have put skin in the game. Interesting document once again.
The truth is that some things will never change, corporations have only gained more power in the years that have passed between this interview and today. They are ruthless in retribution against anyone who doesn’t play by their rules. The “company town” is a thing of the past, as they have found ways to distance their responsibility for retirement plans for long term employees, but at the time he is speaking, they wanted as much control of the lives of their employees as they could get.🖤🇨🇦
A global government and private cabal is the latest and greatest to keep humans at bay. Technology is what makes it all possible. Can we decentralize the power accumulation quickly enough while butrassing individuals rights and freedoms before its too late to stop global oppression? It'll be interesting to see
Have you read their agendas? It goes way beyond rights and freedoms. How much do you value your life and those around you? They're out to take us out en mass! They don't need us anymore.
It's interesting that for him it was ideal to have "a career at one company that would last a lifetime". People from my generation and for me, the prospect of being tied to one company forever is a scary thought. My generation, Generation X, is very entrepreneurial. We prefer to build something from scratch and then move on to the next project. We value our independence and we don't want to depend on one company for the rest of our lives. We now live in a dynamic society that's moving fast. So we have to be adoptable and be able to move efficiently.
Sounds like the Vice P got offended and decided to flex his power on this poor guy in retaliation. Sad. I can't get over the incredible sound quality of the vocals, soft but distinct, round and clear.
Same s today? Yes. Example: Corporations owning news outlets when they are not primarily in the news business. Censorship and pressure slanting is not reporting or even editorial commentary.
Is he still alive today? I am guessing probably not. It would be interesting to hear his thoughts after what has happened over time. The warning about government has come true, perhaps not in quite the way that the commencement speaker had foreseen. Government has become huge, but the corporations have just moved in to be in control, far from being resistant to government bloat. My father was a lifetime employee in Sears Canada, with their retirement plan. As the company was going under, one of the things they tried to do to stop it was to cut back on payments to retirees. This didn't go over well. Eventually all the retirees did lose out. I've heard General Motors described as a retirement plan company that builds some cars on the side.
We had a meeting at my job some time before the Corona hit and were told that we are not allowed to write or say anything critical about the company in social media/FaceBook. A girl who had been fired had just done so. This is a large company in Denmark. The person who told it on behalf of the executives represent the union and he is not very intelligent. In fact, the most unaware and stupid person around, who always support bad ideas and gets upset with any good idea and who also pushed us workers to do what we were told regarding masks during Corona times and shouted at me for not wearing a mask. He also speaks bad about the executives if they are good and try to improve the place, behind their back; always smiling and ''nice'', so it took me a while to figure him out. One day, we shall be free and those men will suddenly realize what they have done.
Interesting that I just read a statistic Andrew that 663 American and foreign billionaires contributed substantially to the Republican Party and to individual Republicans running for political office throughout the country. If the Republican Party stands for me as an individual working person, why are those billionaires giving money to defeat Democrat candidates and support Republicans? It's partially because as many of us know, the right doesn't give a damn about whether I survive or not as an individual worker, as an American, as a person who needs healthcare and Social Security. David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Neither party cares much, as they are both corpratist. The Dems wear a friendlier face, and fling a few crumbs, but always seem to punch left while hoping for a strong GOP with which to work.
clazy8 . There are about 750 billionaires in the USA. 600 approximately funded the Republicans with somewhat huge hidden donations. David Hartman filmmaker by the way I am not a Democrat
Whereas I kind of agree with this guy, the company did paid him a fair standard of living (per his own admission) and he bit the hand that feeds him and got fired for it. I don't know what he really expected would happen.
Thank you, David. "Life is what happens when you have made other plans." John Lennon's quote whose life sadly and ironically ended in a way he never planned on.
This guy made a strategic error. He obviously understood what it was he did as he explicitly stated what the conflict was. It's unfortunate but he was an employee criticizing his corporation's policies publicly, not a college professor.
Thanks to Brandon and his ilk, I will work till I die. It is much worse now then when this film was made. As Steppenwolf sang in the 60's, " the vote is a meaningless joke".
We have gone from the era of the employer/corporation to the era of the employee. Now, the power weighs on employees, and if the corporation doesn’t align with the employees knowledge/skills or values, the employee leaves for a better one. This has forced employers to invest more into career development and employee enrichment, which I think is a great thing! Screw the man! Great doc, this is close to what I’m learning in school.
We have a long way to go, yet; employees are able to leave at-will and often find new employment at the moment, but that is quite recent, and corporations do not yet feel pressure to drastically improve wages/salaries or provide half of the benefits that existed when this was filmed.
In a way, this person wasn't very smart in the way of politics. If he wanted to criticize the company, whether directly or implied, he should've had another job lined up. I'm sure his job in the 50's and 60's was much better than today.
Thank you Lucie. I wish that RUclips did reward folks who get lots of comments that are lengthy and interesting like I do. They say they will do that someday. But not yet. David Hoffman filmmaker
And Bethlehem Steel died on the vine and we now live in a Democrat/ Republican / Communist Chinese Corporatist welfare state autocracy. I would love to know what happened to that country club he was talking about.
this guy should have had some sense. don't publish an article under your real name, publish it under a pen name. he was asking for trouble......................... and got it big time.
Here's another worker that I filmed telling his story in the 1960s -
ruclips.net/video/Y1J3O-iaDiI/видео.html
Imagine, being fired for being an academic as required. Strange that a large corporation was so afraid of this man.
plenty more where that came from
@@elmonte5lim that's for sure
Because he was ruining the illusion and lie of corporate life.
He's well spoken and intelligent. Of course they fired him.
@@ChristianTheJew Nailed it.
The gentleman's name is David G. Wood.
I found his article in the November 1963 issue of Harper's magazine, entitled *_"How Businessmen Can Fight Big Governmen - And Win"._*
In the article, Wood asks the businessman: _"What honest reason could there possibly be for not informing buyers exactly, in a percentage figure and in dollars and cents, what buying on time is going to cost them?"_ He continues by lamenting that: _"Maybe passage or anotlier law is undesirable - but retailers themselves have shown no inclination to police the situation. Their attitude appears to be, as usual, to get whatever the traffic will bear, which is a remarkable amount if the facts can be disguised well enough."_
It's a long article. For anyone interested, below are some highlights, starting with the introduction and the first few paragraphs:
(A steel man suggests that it's time for them to stop bellyaching about creeping socialism and to take some practical, direct steps to fix the weak spots in our society - before Washington has to do it.)
_I am weary at hearing fellow businessmen attack big government. I'm even more bored with platitudes about defending the free enterprise system. And the charge that nobody understands the role of profits is just as tiresome._
_The latter was the theme of yet another speech I sat through at a major college campus last June. It was the annual awards banquet of the school of business administration. The speaker was the director of corporate and publlc affairs, whatever that means, of a major home-appliance manufacturer in the Midwest. He was out to convince his listeners that profits are the cornerstone of our society. Why senior students and faculty members in business administration, and businessmen from the surroundingcommunities, should need convincing is a point that escaped me. I guess he was really trying to tell the graduating students to go forth and save our system. The "how" was totally missing, an all too common aspect of these polished, inspirational free enterprise speeches._
_I happen to believe so strongly in our free enterprise system and in the importance of profits to that system that I'm convinced they don't need defending. To do so is to state the obvious. That's why the speeches and the advertisements and the commercials and the house-organ articles are so boring._
_Our economic system is, after all, a human institution. And no human institution I know or has ever achieved perfection. Improvement should be a goal of all businessmen truly intent on preserving the free enterprise system. But we never seem to talk about improvement when we make speeches. This would involve "how?" It would force us to consider methods and programs and objectives. It would be controversial, and businessmen try never to be controversial. Hence, we are boring._
_The director of corporate and public affairs, In his speech at the banquet, cited a typical statistic from Opinion Research, Inc. Sixty-two percent, or something like that, of all Americans think profits are too high. Does this mean proflts are too high? Emphatetically no, said our speaker, profits are dwindling every year. I work for the steel industry and I wholeheartedly endorse that part of his talk. Does it mean that the American people are being misled by educators and journalists into the belief that profits are too high? Despite the fact he was speaking before a considerable number of educators, our speaker implied that this was the case. He managed by a "we know you're with us" gesture to exclude the business administration professors from the leftist teachers who some businessmen are convinced dominate our campuses today._
_At any rate, we were told, we businessmen must somehow overcome the power of the press and the schools and tell the people the truth - that profits are not too high. They are too low. I don't believe the director of corporate and public affairs actually expects us to succeed. Who would invest their money in our corporations if the people did become convinced that profits are too low?_
[ ... ]
_The Peace Corps is a marvelous idea, perhaps the best of the Kennedy administration so far, but the young people we send overseas must have skills if they are to be of any service. We businessmen ought to promote and favor any programs which will enhance human skills, even Government programs. Our businesses will benefit eventually, just as they benefit from public education. Providing all the employment and on-the-job training we possibly can, consistent with efficient operating practices, should be the No. 1 goal of our private economy. Then if we still are unable to absorb the 26 million young people in this decade that Mr. Hill talks about, we must stop opposing Federal and State programs. Serving in a Government-sponsored civilian service corps, foreign or domestic, is infinitely preferable to joblessness. Business opposition to a domestic Peace Corps ls the type of irresponsible negativism that causes our fellow citizens to dislike us, ignore us, or both._
_Employment opportunities are not the only kind denied many Americans. Negroes lack so many opportunities that theirs has been a second-class citizenship in a society based on equal citizenship for all. This is wrong, and at long last two branches of the Federal Government - the judicial and executive - are taking meaningful action to assure equal rights for everyone. There appear to be a considerable number of business executives willing to condemn such use of Federal power. Many others (or perhaps they are the same ones) join and finance anti-Communist crusades. Using comparable energy and most likely less money, these same businessmen - through the power they possess in the American economy - could render Government action unneceesary and deliver worldwide communism a staggering blow. Equal status for the American Negro would undermine Communist strategy and propaganda everywhere. This one improvement in our own society could well be enough to turn the tide overwhelmingly in our favor throughout the world. I often wonder why the anti-Communist crusaders don't change into pro-Negro crusaders. They would achieve their goal far sooner than with their present methods._
_I would expect the truly responsible leaders of business and industry, however, to work toward equality for the Negroes simply because it's right. I wish there were more evidence that they are so working. Undoubtedly, more is being done than the public generally realizes. Because the problems involved are potentially explosive, and because they are not concerned with winning votes, businessmen generally shun publicity in endeavors of this kind. All but one of the white business leaders of Birmingham who served on the biracial committee seeking a solution to the city's conflict, before the bombings this fall, refused even to be identified. They feared economic reprisals, a universal concern of businessmen. "What will my customers think?" is a question usually considered carefully prior to political or social activity. It's a shame Mr. Welch didn't ponder it more seriously before he founded the John Birch Society. If he had run true to business form, he might have decided to refrain for fear of offending all the country's Communist candy consumers._
[ ... ]
_United States Steel is Birmingham's largest employer and therefore a powerful economic force there. It is a faint praise to point out that under United States Steel's quiet leadership and influence Birmingham is a better city than it would otherwise be. A question that has been repeatedly asked, usually by indignant liberals, is, "Why hasn't John F. Kennedy done more about Birmingham?" Conservatives who truly believe what they preach ought to respond with, "Why hasn't Robert Blough done more about Birmingham."_
_Undoubtedly many business leaders will object to what I have said. Full employment, job training, fair employment practices, equal rights for all our citizens, consumer protection, medical care for retired men and women. I can hear the response of businessmen I know: None of these things is our concern. Our job is to make a respectable profit for our shareholders." To them I say, "Then stop raving about big government." If private citizens with power and influence refuse to concern themselves with improving our society beyond offering new and better products, they have only themselves to blame if their power atrophies. Negativism is not leadership. And that is what the business community all too often exerts._
_Until we businessmen demonstrate some positive leadership in the solution of social and economic problems, I'm afraid the country is better off in the hands of the politicians and their allies, the labor leaders and the intellectuals._
Interesting vid and article. I wonder what Mr Wood would think about the extent to which big business in the current era has embraced his early "stakeholder capitalism" ideas. I submit he'd think things have gone 180° to far. Business and govt haven't ever been some intertwined via "corporatism" ( the Biden regime just loves big business-small biz? Not so much) and ESG.
And in 2024 with the benefit of 20/20 vision, we can see how that turned out.
I worked in the plant of Bethlehem Steel for 11 months in the early 70's. I had 3 close calls with heavy crane lifts, that had I been hit, would've turned me into a gelatinous grease spot. I was constantly amazed at the scale of things there. Everything was huge, immensely heavy, hot beyond imagination.
I saw so many lifers, WW II generation guys, limbs missing, a bad limp. I was a young man who was just doing what I had to to get by, amazed I gotnsuch a well paying job for the time.
I got a bad case of flu, that imobilized me for well over a week. When I returned to work, I was informed that I was fired. I could've fought it, but my recollection of these close calls, the lifers, being confined to the filth, the macho attitude I had to maintain, was enough to discourage that effort, and chalk it up to a life's experience. I'm glad I had that experience of working there, but I was an artist, with intellect. I just didn't fit in.
Life got better and worse, but here I am, retired, with a still sound, healthy body and mind.
I appreciate finding this video. This man was way ahead of his time. The powers that be at that time had the militaristic control of a strict hierarchy. Anything that ruffled feathers, be it business or personal, was dealt with severely. This man's heart, compassion, empathy, were a threat, finanacially, and to the company's all-important public image. It is amazing that politically, people like him are viewed as weak, whereas the opposite is true.
I'm sure he found another job, did well.
Well said and i couldn't have said it better.
Truer words were never spoken. I'm sincerely sorry that you got fired! The truth is the truth and unlike you, whistleblowers get fired and also revenge. Wrong is wrong! Thank you David for this video!
Incredible how calm, concise, and punctual this man is in explaining his entire situation. When something like this happens today you see people outburst in anger and rage.
Men of his generation were not raised to show emotion.
Oh stop
People during this exact time period couldn't handle desegregated water fountains without screaming.
@@Obiwancolenobi Hit the nail on the head. People love romanticizing the past lmao
@@karenh2890 I would rephrase that to say men of that generation, and prior generations, were raised to not show emotions. ☮️
@@Obiwancolenobi Fortunately, that was not the case in many parts of the country. ☮️
This is my favorite RUclips channel. I'm 27 and there is no question what I do when I'm not busy, the first and only thing I do is open the RUclips app and go to this channel and start my binge lol.
As a blue collar worker through the 70s, 60s, 90s if I had any complaints or even asked for a raise I would simple be told, "if you don't like it, go somewhere else". Nothings improved, in fact its gotten worse, the corporations get richer and the workers get poorer. Glad I'm retired.
Yep, as if jobs are just there for the picking!
Im not. I got my raise. My bosses nuts were in a vice at the time. Only way I got it.
To be fair, a lot of corporations do fail.
I can say that's how one job i worked at a warehouse was. 2 years of my life spent there putting in a lot of work and I barely got a raise. The biggest raise I got was from 12 to 15. Than I got one more two dollar raise. $17 dollars wasn't cutting it by the end and I was up for promotion but never got it even though I was doing the work. They still expected me to do the work and never wanted to pay me so I left.
@@thatsnodildo1974 Same my guy....
He wasn't afraid to speak his mind, tell it like it is. Thanks for sharing this video David Hoffman film maker. Awesome 😎👍👍🎥
"A career that will last a lifetime" I don't think that's the norm anymore.
Lifetimes are often longer.
That Simpsons joke about the nuclear plant sign saying "Remember! You're here forever!" is job security most people would kill to have nowadays.
It's really not. 2 years max at some places. No one can or wants to keep up with inflation so if you don't make what you need it's better to move on. Very few places reward long time employees any longer
David,
If possible, it would be wonderful to find out what ever happened to the gentleman.
In his mind he was just trying to make it better for the future, of the rest of us. But unfortunately nothing has changed
I'd love to know what happened but I kept his release just for short period of time and then lost it in the changing workplace.
David Hoffman filmmaker
'a wife and five children to support' ... those were the days, my friend. BTW his name is David Wood.
I'm glad to have found this channel years ago. And, oh boy, each upload delivers.
Thank you for your comment. If your resources allow, I would sure appreciate your using the THANKS button under any of my videos including the one you have commented on. It is something new that RUclips is beta testing and would mean a great deal for my continuing efforts.
David Hoffman filmmaker
He's a hero for speaking out about this Corporation. Just a correction: you wrote that he dreamed of retiring with a 401k. 401ks didn't exist in 1964; not until the late '70s. But I assume you meant a retirement plan of some kind, probably a pension back then. Once he said he was from U Dub and live in SF I knew he wouldn't be seeing eye to eye with the heads of a Corporate Steel company Still it's crazy he was fired over something relatively minor; just shows that corporate structure is Fascist in nature, so decisions are often made accordingly. David did many people see this clip back then? I hope so!
Thanks! They told him to be quiet he's jeopardizing his career ! He has a family ! That's probly the reason he went against authority to try an make it better for future workers like his own kids maybe!
Tommy. Thank you. Much appreciated.
David Hoffman filmmaker
Thanks!
Thank you Regina.
David Hoffman Filmmaker
There's a song called "Little Boxes" that should be the music to this film. It fits like a glove. Very thought provoking, as usual, Mr. Hoffman. Have a great evening!
A true man of virtue, who found his heart spoke louder than the corporate world training and ethos, for him to be of a machine mind and make machines of men, to make riches for the few.
Welcome to America! It's heartening that someone back in the 60s would speak out, bravo! I just hope that the guy who was subject to this documentary piece was able to find something to sustain his family. Corporate America doesn't look kindly on people who defy the lie.
"Go along to get along" Cleveland-Cliffs thanks Bethlehem steel for the Indiana blast furnace they built for them...
He had a Harpers-published article, and well on his way to be an enterprise and HR consultant!
Thanks David. This is just as relevant today as when filmed.
Little has shifted in the corporate world, regardless of the enterprise. This interview is as relevant today as it was in 1964. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing as always
Some things never change. Absolutely amazing!
They miscalculated how expensive his integrity really was.
Apparently, he couldn't be bought.
Do you know anything of what happened to him after this? A great man. I hope life worked out for him. These companies seem to think they own us.
They do own all of us.
Daniel. Unfortunately, I do not know what happened to him. I wish I had kept in touch with all the people that I ever filmed or had anything to do with professionally.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker apparently, his piece was published in Harpers, ca. 1963. His DoB was likely around 1930.
@@TheCablebill "How businessmen can fight “big government”-and win" by David G. Wood, November 1963. Likely to be it from the info in the video and the year of filming, though I don't have a script to read.
Edit: It looks like 'SOG and Vietnam - Retracing the Past' gives snippets and synopsis elsewhere in these comments.
Great material David
Just keep the shareholders happy. Make the company more this quarter than the last. But if you get sick or injured at work, you're a trouble maker. Or they make you jump through hoops just to get what is owed to you. My company could improve the air quality in our shop easily. But they choose not to and take the easy way out which the corporate lawyers told them to. Its sickening. Literally.
I worked for TD Ameritrade for a couple of years. My manager used to like to say, “the report doesn’t know you were sick. The report doesn’t know you went on vacation.” To that end, you could technically take time off but you still had to meet the quarterly goals that some data freak had laid out, even if it meant working 12 hour days to make up your kpi’s. I fired them.
slave to money
Well, thankfully Bethlehem Steel eventually saw the error of its ways, adjusted its way of thinking, and is a thriving and dynamic company today! 😂
Wow. Great find, and very revealing about how corporate money stifles freedom. This man's case shows it clearly.
Video Title asks: " Same As Today? " :
Fair enough = YES !
... nearly sixty years later, I really think that nothing has changed.
Oh it's changed. Read their agendas. That generation got all the goodies whereas we're to be gotten rid of and the children enslaved. The RockyHorrorFellows say so.
This is the perfect example of why we don’t have a democracy in the United States and never did. Unfortunately things have gotten a lot worse.
Was there ever a time of "free speech"?
I doubt it now. But I do understand better now why so many people don't speak up to help the less fortunate. I am not into socialism, just helping the Person next to me.
Corporations are formed to avoid personal financial and social liabilities.
But we still support them, and buy their version of the dream.
Look at Amazon atm, they make employees kpi so difficult to attain, and when employees blow out their health they let them go without any responsibility or liabilities for necessary care.
good for him even back then to call out how corporations strained free speech against workers that go against their capital.
Truth is a big no no nowadays
And now here we are today. We seem to be getting closer to that cliff and seem frozen to do anything about it. Plenty of people are warning us but we fear to do anything about it. I remember reading Rachael Carson's Silent Spring in high school. I thought how could people be so destructive? Now it all makes sense since all they care about is getting rich at the expense of others. How long do we put up with people who are ready to throw us off the bridge?
I've worked for two major soulless corporations in my life. Then I work for a small mom and pop that became incorporated, I don't know what it is that we become greedy, vein, complicit humans not remembering where we came from once we get a little bit of money. Evil is not logical sometimes
He was worried about socialism... and capitalism fired him for it. Fascinating.
This brought back memories for me of the WTO peaceful demonstration that turned militant in Seattle in 1999. That was when I knew that the corporate entity reigned supreme. Truly a nightmare.
history repeats itself ...
over and over and over and
Today no vac or severance pay.
2 words. "Operation Paperclip"
Great film echoes of today all over it. ✌👍👏👏👏👏
Freedom of speech in the workplace equal no longer employed or Corporate America censorship equal keep your mouth shut and stay in line.
"Goldwatch Blues"
Mick Softley, 1965
I went up for my interview on the fourth day of July
Personnel man, he questioned me until I nearly cried
Made me fill in forms until I shook with fear
About the colour of my toilet roll and if my cousin's queer
"Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain
And your piece of paper to say you left here sane"
"And if you've a son who wants a good career
Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years"
He asked me how many jobs I'd had before
He nearly had a heart attack when I answered, "Four"
"Four jobs in twenty years, oh, this can never be"
"We only take on men who work until they die"
"Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain
And your piece of paper to say you left here sane"
"And if you've a son who wants a good career
Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years"
He took me outside to where the gravestones stand in line
"This is where we bury them, in quick-stone and in lime"
"And if you come to work for us, on this you must agree
That if you're going to die, please, do it during tea break"
"Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain
And your piece of paper to say you left here sane"
"And if you've a son who wants a good career
Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years"
This story that you heard you may think rather queer
But it is the truth you'll be surprised to hear
I did not want no job upon the board
I just wanted to take a broom and sweep the bloody floor
"Here's your gold watch and the shackles for your chain
And your piece of paper to say you left here sane"
"And if you've a son who wants a good career
Just get him to sign on the dotted line and work for fifty years"
*David Hoffman David Wood Big Cooperate David was Fired in 1960 appreciate your videos Listening 🌟 from Mass USA TYVM 💙 Dave*
Could greed be humanity's downfall in the pursuit of personal wealth? Wealth should be measured by one's contribution to you community and society. "Without Tax Breaks"
I work on Wall Street today and this is still how it is. You make such good money that you just don't have any incentive to complain or care. They try to shit you down and just give you crumbs, even for social things, all they ultimately care about is he bottom line. No matter what.
Boy, does that relate other than the salary and living arrangement. Your govt. agencies have, and do much worse to workers that report or complain about anything relating to their agents, or agencies themselves, even when they are at fault.
Still the same. I was fired from a large oil company for speaking out. Even though this breaches whistleblower laws.
He never even published his last article but waited for the censorship, right?
One of the commentators mentioned his name and the articles he published.
David Hoffman filmmaker
It was no accident that the Jack Lemmon character in THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES was a PR man. His father-in-law, played by Charles Bickford, grows flowers and says, “I just can’t understand that kind of work.”
Same As Today?
No, ...it got worse.
Yep same sh%$ different day
What happened in the long run to this fellow David do you know?
Sadly, I do not.
David Hoffman filmmaker
And today? Make a comment on Social Media and see how long you stay employed. The Man has ALWAYS been IN CHARGE, and this is ESPECIALLY TRUE in so called "Right to Work" States. NEVER will The System allow for anything OTHER than The Man to have the IMMEDIATE RIGHT TO SEVERABILITY of YOUR JOB. NEVER. NEVER! Happy Future 4th of Julys, and keep whistling "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy" Folks! I
Like how companies threaten people with vaccines. An evil system to get fired for refusing it in your body.
Today we have OSHA and Whistleblower laws
I worked at a Toyota car manufacturing plant in Princeton, Indiana. I believe the only thing that has changed is the technology.
Grew up in Lehigh Valley. Over seas cheap labor and huge Bethlehem Steel pensions did the company in.
i wonder what came of he and his family?
I’m kinda of seeing this in the military 😢
Typical rabble rouser! 😂😂😂
Most people nowadays are cowards, say boo and they jump 10 feet!!
This man has a strong moral fiber which is difficult to find in today's World!!!
Part of the reason is because whistleblowers in every industry keep committing sooitcide (sic).
Throughout history same narrative and consequences if questioning the elites. Brave man and woman, with integrity have paid the price. With reflection they probably slowed the consequences of the speed of which these conditions have been implemented on the rest of society, if the rest of us had the guts and integrity to stand with these people, we would not be at the stage we are now. We are all complicit, even by keeping silent. These are the individuals who should be looked up to, these people have put skin in the game. Interesting document once again.
The truth is that some things will never change, corporations have only gained more power in the years that have passed between this interview and today. They are ruthless in retribution against anyone who doesn’t play by their rules.
The “company town” is a thing of the past, as they have found ways to distance their responsibility for retirement plans for long term employees, but at the time he is speaking, they wanted as much control of the lives of their employees as they could get.🖤🇨🇦
It is worse today.
A global government and private cabal is the latest and greatest to keep humans at bay. Technology is what makes it all possible. Can we decentralize the power accumulation quickly enough while butrassing individuals rights and freedoms before its too late to stop global oppression? It'll be interesting to see
Have you read their agendas? It goes way beyond rights and freedoms. How much do you value your life and those around you? They're out to take us out en mass! They don't need us anymore.
It's interesting that for him it was ideal to have "a career at one company that would last a lifetime". People from my generation and for me, the prospect of being tied to one company forever is a scary thought. My generation, Generation X, is very entrepreneurial. We prefer to build something from scratch and then move on to the next project. We value our independence and we don't want to depend on one company for the rest of our lives. We now live in a dynamic society that's moving fast. So we have to be adoptable and be able to move efficiently.
Today people get fired for expressing unpopular opinions on personal twitter accounts.
Sounds like the Vice P got offended and decided to flex his power on this poor guy in retaliation. Sad.
I can't get over the incredible sound quality of the vocals, soft but distinct, round and clear.
Same s today? Yes. Example: Corporations owning news outlets when they are not primarily in the news business. Censorship and pressure slanting is not reporting or even editorial commentary.
Is he still alive today? I am guessing probably not.
It would be interesting to hear his thoughts after what has happened over time. The warning about government has come true, perhaps not in quite the way that the commencement speaker had foreseen. Government has become huge, but the corporations have just moved in to be in control, far from being resistant to government bloat.
My father was a lifetime employee in Sears Canada, with their retirement plan. As the company was going under, one of the things they tried to do to stop it was to cut back on payments to retirees. This didn't go over well. Eventually all the retirees did lose out.
I've heard General Motors described as a retirement plan company that builds some cars on the side.
An time capsule? Consume and conform.
Socialism. Capitalism. They are two horns on the same BULL.
Comforting to know that "Business" remains the same here in the Land of Milk and Honey!!
We had a meeting at my job some time before the Corona hit and were told that we are not allowed to write or say anything critical about the company in social media/FaceBook. A girl who had been fired had just done so. This is a large company in Denmark. The person who told it on behalf of the executives represent the union and he is not very intelligent. In fact, the most unaware and stupid person around, who always support bad ideas and gets upset with any good idea and who also pushed us workers to do what we were told regarding masks during Corona times and shouted at me for not wearing a mask. He also speaks bad about the executives if they are good and try to improve the place, behind their back; always smiling and ''nice'', so it took me a while to figure him out. One day, we shall be free and those men will suddenly realize what they have done.
Sad that he wasn't able to give his opinion with valid points. While not naming his own company without losing his job.
Same as it ever was. You can say what you like, unless it threatens the capitalists.
Interesting that I just read a statistic Andrew that 663 American and foreign billionaires contributed substantially to the Republican Party and to individual Republicans running for political office throughout the country. If the Republican Party stands for me as an individual working person, why are those billionaires giving money to defeat Democrat candidates and support Republicans? It's partially because as many of us know, the right doesn't give a damn about whether I survive or not as an individual worker, as an American, as a person who needs healthcare and Social Security.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker you're Madd about how another individual spends their money?
@@daktarioskarvannederhosen2568 you're using a stereotype about Republicans and money and it's basically exposes your jealous nature 😉.
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Neither party cares much, as they are both corpratist. The Dems wear a friendlier face, and fling a few crumbs, but always seem to punch left while hoping for a strong GOP with which to work.
clazy8 . There are about 750 billionaires in the USA. 600 approximately funded the Republicans with somewhat huge hidden donations.
David Hartman filmmaker
by the way I am not a Democrat
Look up Dave MacPherson, the first guest at Disneyland. Could be the same man.
I wonder who that man was.
David Wood was/is his name.
@@jerfacekilla thamks!
Plantation life of the South had grown to industrial scale in the North.
I’ll go back to sleep now 😴
It's not like that as much because CEOs are hardly living in the same area code or state as you.
Wow. Smh
Whereas I kind of agree with this guy, the company did paid him a fair standard of living (per his own admission) and he bit the hand that feeds him and got fired for it. I don't know what he really expected would happen.
Thank you, David. "Life is what happens when you have made other plans." John Lennon's quote whose life sadly and ironically ended in a way he never planned on.
This guy made a strategic error. He obviously understood what it was he did as he explicitly stated what the conflict was. It's unfortunate but he was an employee criticizing his corporation's policies publicly, not a college professor.
There is a lot in common with capitalism and lust. They both involve thinking about me.
Was this man really counting on a 401k for retirement in 1964? Most companies, Including Bethlehem Steel , had pension plans.
Anyone have a link to the article?
Thanks to Brandon and his ilk, I will work till I die. It is much worse now then when this film was made. As Steppenwolf sang in the 60's, " the vote is a meaningless joke".
We have gone from the era of the employer/corporation to the era of the employee. Now, the power weighs on employees, and if the corporation doesn’t align with the employees knowledge/skills or values, the employee leaves for a better one. This has forced employers to invest more into career development and employee enrichment, which I think is a great thing! Screw the man! Great doc, this is close to what I’m learning in school.
We have a long way to go, yet; employees are able to leave at-will and often find new employment at the moment, but that is quite recent, and corporations do not yet feel pressure to drastically improve wages/salaries or provide half of the benefits that existed when this was filmed.
Creeping Socialism: are you going after Social Security and Medicare again? It isn't 1964 any more.
In a way, this person wasn't very smart in the way of politics. If he wanted to criticize the company, whether directly or implied, he should've had another job lined up. I'm sure his job in the 50's and 60's was much better than today.
I've seen this house.
I believe the easiest way to say it is the rich keep getting richer, the poor, well you already know.
The original Chad
Thanks! Odd comments, but your content always best! Investment opportunities? In the comments?
Thank you Lucie. I wish that RUclips did reward folks who get lots of comments that are lengthy and interesting like I do. They say they will do that someday. But not yet.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker David, some spam investment comments on your page last few days is what I was referring to.
So I report.
Yes. I keep removing them but they keep coming back. I do the best I can to get rid of all of them. Mostly bots.
David Hoffman filmmaker
"Capitalism".
And Bethlehem Steel died on the vine and we now live in a Democrat/ Republican / Communist Chinese Corporatist welfare state autocracy. I would love to know what happened to that country club he was talking about.
Good point. The country club is still there. You can look it up.
‘Welfare state’ not so much
this guy should have had some sense.
don't publish an article under your real name, publish it under a pen name.
he was asking for trouble......................... and got it big time.
I think today it would be wose than just getting fired. The truth is a very unpopular topic because it doesn't make people feel good. 8