My last day as a bank teller is Monday, August 18, 2025; that is 169 days employed in the position. I have learned a lot.
In my letter of resignation I cited as the predominant reason the fact that we were chronically short-staffed coupled with the constant pressure on the bank tellers to make referrals in an effort to sell customers on additional accounts, loans, credit cards and other bank services. I expressed my frustration over the clash between “Legendary Service” and “sales goals” - both stated objectives that in practice (most especially in a busy branch) are often opposed. I had no idea this would be a go-team, rah-rah kind of job. The other reason I cited as less influential but still noticeably noticeable was ageism; (see this previous post). A day or two after giving my notice I was contacted by my great-grandboss who made a strong and (I believe) sincere effort to retain me. She spoke to my concerns and did reassure me that my performance and what I offered the company exceeded expectations, but in rethinking my resignation I reminded myself of the underlying essential reason(s) for my desire to leave.
Capitalism is a cult…
…and a Cult can range from uncaring to cruel to murderous.
…and a bank (more blatantly than some other institutional followers) promotes and perpetuates.
Drawing from this website (cultrecovery101) which is consistent with other similar sites, if one accepts capitalism as a living breathing leader, (which it is), it hits on every named cult characteristic:
- “The group is focused on a living leader to whom members seem to display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment.”
- “The group is preoccupied with bringing in new members.”
- “The group is preoccupied with making money.”
- “Questioning, doubt, and dissent are discouraged or even punished.” There is a stigma connected to socialist ideas.
- “Mind-numbing techniques (such as meditation, chanting, speaking in tongues, denunciation sessions, debilitating work routines) are used to suppress doubts about the group and its leader(s).”
- “The leadership dictates sometimes in great detail how members should think, act, and feel.”
- “The group is elitist, claiming a special, exalted status for itself, its leader(s), and members.”
- “The group has a polarized us-versus-them mentality.”
- “The group’s leader is not accountable to any authorities.”
- “The group teaches or implies that its supposedly exalted ends justify means that members would have considered unethical before joining the group.”
- “The leadership induces guilt feelings in members in order to control them.” — Guilt and Shame.
- “Members’ subservience to the group causes them to cut ties with family and friends, and to give up personal goals and activities that were of interest before joining the group.” Goals such as altruism, empathy, and respect.
- “Members are encouraged or required to live and/or socialize only with other group members.”
This past Monday at the bank our weekly pep rally celebrated our investment advisors. We were reminded that we have a fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interest of our clients who have $50,000 or more, and that includes (per the ‘Wealth Referral Guide’ handout) widening the wealth gap (Investment Management and Financial Planning), perpetuating unequal opportunity (Education Planning), inflating the bank's bottom line (Fee Structure), and minimizing empathy, respect, and necessary services for the poor (Tax Management). And as far as I can see we are not required to act in the best interest of those clients with less than $50,000 and we believe we are doing them a favor (teaching them about Capitalism) by offering them (imposing upon them) our Fee Structure: Non-Sufficient Funds fees, Overdraft Protection fees, Account fees, ATM fees, Check fees, Transaction fees, fees on top of Interest, and more.
In other words, wealth is power; proximity to power is not wealth.
In other words, without wealth the individual counts for nothing.
In other words, we have an ethical responsibility to act unethically.
In other words, we prioritize the best interest of the wealthy over the best interest of Humanity.
In other words, Capitalism is a Cult…
