LIFE IN THESE UNITED STATES:...From Banking Comes A Lifeline For That DEI Concept...Chase Bank, The Largest In The Entire World, Takes The Lead On Backing It...Republicans Want It Gone...

 

By DUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ

McALLEN, Texas |...The other day, some right-wing nutcase blamed Boeing's ongoing problems with its commercial airliners on the concept of DEI, the sort of old acronym for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, that stuff that makes this grass-whorled immigrant nation go round and round.

A Republican congressman threw out his thoughts that perhaps DEI need not be used in the higher echelons of our military's leadership.

Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is all-in on eliminating DEI considerations on all state government hirings, as is, we should note, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. It's a baffler, yes. When did that become a problem?

It isn't.

It's part & parcel a move by far-right Republicans to keep jobs and jobholders from one sector of our population. Need I say it. I should, but let's keep thinking we're intelligent people around here, citizens who can read and make the accurate deductions. Man, that Texas Legislature leadership is just too damned White. Over at the University of Texas-Austin, administrators are rushing to comply with the governor's DEI directive.

True shit, as John Wayne would say about here.

But it is the business world that may not fall-in as readily as angling politicians eager to do this and that to stay alongside the extremists in our midst.

Like Chase Bank CEO Jamie Dimon.     

This from axios.com: [ In his shareholder letter last week, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon actually talked about his bank's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, though he didn't use the now-reviled DEI abbreviation.

Dimon's words stand out at a time when most CEOs have gone silent - or openly hostile - on these programs, amid widespread backlash.

In his surprising, unexpected letter, Dimon touted a range of programs - from resource groups for employees who are Black, LGBTQ+, or have disabilities to a fund aimed at helping needed entrepreneurs of color, investments in rural communities, and recruiting efforts at historically Black colleges and universities.

He also said that the $30 billion racial equity commitment the bank made in 2020 was "nearly completed" and would become a permanent part of the business.

"We're thoughtfully continuing our diversity, equity and inclusion efforts," he wrote, adding that they'll work to ensure programs conform as the laws evolve around these issues.

In his letter, Dimon says these diversity efforts are good for business. ]

Uh, there it is. Ultimately, as always, all of our crazed pussyfooting political foreplay ends up being held accountable by the all-mighty dollar. We hate that Hispanic-owned used car lot flying the Mexican flag over on the highway in town, but we'll take the sales tax, baby!

Dimon knows corporate America may not altogether be on his side.

But he's fully aware of the all-important bottom line...A greenback is a greenback no matter who presents it to the teller, whether a White, a Black, a Brown, or a dog trained to do it by its whimsical master...

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