I have been having an internal (and sometimes external) debate with myself and wrestling with my personal identity vs. professional identity lately. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has been through this process, so I'd like to throw it out there in hopes you will share your experiences and suggestions with me.
I consider myself liberal to the bone. There are issues where I am indifferent or haven't really been able to pin down my thoughts, but there are some issues that I am extremely passionate about. My "passion" issues are things I believe deep in my heart and soul. Most of these are issues dealing with human decency and, in these instances, I am truly unable to see how good people on the other side can think the way they do.
I happen to have a career in the financial services industry. Most of my company's clients are wealthy, often small business owners, who have children and grandchildren who will inherit this wealth. One very important goal of my company is to help these clients invest their money in such a way that they legally avoid as much income tax and estate taxes that they can. Let me be very clear--nothing my company suggests is in a gray area. There are many, many, many, many loopholes and perfectly legal, IRS approved tactics to accomplish this. I don't have too much of a moral problem with this, but I want you to see the environment I work in.
The owner of my company is one of the worst right-wingers I've ever known. He knows how I feel and I know how he feels and we used to have some entertaining debates. No harm, no foul, nothing really controversial. Starting after Obama was elected, he began to go on a tear about the evils of taxation, Obama's socialism, the country is going to hell, etc., etc. It's obvious he has been listening to right wing talk radio a lot. He comes into the office spouting some really hateful stuff sometimes. The other day, I got an earful of how people receiving housing assistance shouldn't be allowed to vote. This right on the heels of a rant on how the government shouldn't be allowed to touch your personal rights. He sees no contradiction there. His racism is also starting to show now. Earlier this week, he lectured me at length about how Obama was only elected because lazy black people voted for him in order to get a bigger check from the government rather than work.
This dynamic has created a great deal of tension at my office. A few months ago, I realized discussing issues with him is no longer productive and would only make me want to scream. I have mostly stopped responding to him or letting him bait me. However, he is my boss. He owns my company. There are many, many meetings where I am called in to discuss work related things, but he will go on a rant for a while, then back to work discussions. My current response is just to stay silent until we get back to work stuff. But I believe my political views are also making him view my work differently. He recently said to me in a meeting, while discussing the pros and cons of client recommendations, that he can't trust the analytical skills of someone who would vote for Obama. I did rise to that bait and probably came within an inch of getting fired.
I am so torn as to what to do here. It saddens me to see someone I once respected and liked become a crazy right-winger. I've worked here for almost 15 years and have never seen this racist, hateful side until now. On the one hand, I feel that staying silent and trying not to rock the boat is the coward's way. Where would we be if people didn't stand up for what's right in order to preserve their self interest? This isn't exactly Mississippi in 1963, but don't I have an obligation to push back?
On the other hand, I have a child to feed and a mortgage to pay. The job market out there is crap and I have no illusions I could find something else quickly. Looking into employment law, my company is mostly exempt (due to size) from anti-discrimination laws, and political affiliation isn't a protected class anyway. Hostile work environment wouldn't fly either, and I have the power to stop the hostility by just nodding and agreeing.
Has anyone else been in this type of situation? Suggestions and comments would be greatly appreciated.