Yogurt: A Barrier to Women's Success - Raritan Valley Community ...

28Among the areas of support is the song’s emphasis on image over genuinebenevolence, which supports Reich’s assessment of the relationship betweencorporate charity and public relations. Also, the picture of the cynicalbusiness executive’s mind corroborates Reich’s analysis of the waves oflayoffs in recent years as a sign of growing economic stratification.Furthermore, the overall message about the consequences of competitionand excessive greed confirms that capitalism has overpowered democracy,as Reich has said.As both Pink Floyd and Reich demonstrate, looking good is veryimportant in the world of capitalism, whereas being good is not essential.Reich writes, “Under today’s intensively competitive form of capitalism,companies donate money to good causes only to the extent that thedonation has public relations value,” meaning that the altruistic behaviors ofcompanies can be chalked up to the desire to be seen as altruistic—after all,businesses know that, as a society, we tend to appreciate kindness andgenerosity (196). Being perceived well is important for getting people to giveyou their money, as David Gilmour notes when he sings, “After a while, youcan work on points for style, like the club tie and the firm handshake, acertain look in the eye and an easy smile” (Pink Floyd). However, in theworld of capitalism, any pretty façade really only hides the desire for money.Some people don’t get it; Reich explains, that “these conspicuous displays ofcorporate beneficence hoodwink the public into believing corporations havecharitable impulses that can be relied on in a pinch” (196). Pink Floyd knowthat “you have to be trusted by the people that you lie to, so that when theyturn their backs on you, you’ll get the chance to put the knife in,” meaningthat these entrepreneurial organizations will do anything for money—theycertainly are not in a rush to give it away.Our highly competitive form of capitalism generates a sort of cynicalattitude in us toward our fellow man in general, as both the essay and the