OK, I read the various finger wagger quotes. I’ll concede one point: the shareholders (capital) bear greater responsibility. Yes, he was “just doing his job.” But it’s dirty work, this job.
It’s true that the primary utility of this type of CEO to a shareholder is liability encapsulation, but if someone hires you to do their dirty work, and you take their money, it doesn’t matter that you’re just doing your job.
In short, any henchman should know what he’s signing up for. Those exorbitant salaries are hazard pay, make no mistake. If you take these dirty jobs, and prolong the suffering of millions, I think it’s reasonable to expect that you’ll need to watch your back. Forever.
Sorry to go straight for Godwin’s law, but Eichmann’s entire defense relied on saying he was just doing what he was told, “My fault is only my obedience”. It’s not much of an argument.
OK, I read the various finger wagger quotes. I’ll concede one point: the shareholders (capital) bear greater responsibility. Yes, he was “just doing his job.” But it’s dirty work, this job.
It’s true that the primary utility of this type of CEO to a shareholder is liability encapsulation, but if someone hires you to do their dirty work, and you take their money, it doesn’t matter that you’re just doing your job.
In short, any henchman should know what he’s signing up for. Those exorbitant salaries are hazard pay, make no mistake. If you take these dirty jobs, and prolong the suffering of millions, I think it’s reasonable to expect that you’ll need to watch your back. Forever.
Sorry to go straight for Godwin’s law, but Eichmann’s entire defense relied on saying he was just doing what he was told, “My fault is only my obedience”. It’s not much of an argument.