Woke politics in Corporate Inc. attracts attention in early Republican party race and Indian American contender Vivek Ramaswamy holds the horn! Though he is the new kid in the block, he is pitching hard with the national identity crisis. He claims the left-wing ideology has replaced faith, patriotism and hard work with new secular religions like COVID-ism, climate-ism and gender ideology.
Anti-woke sentiment for Corporate Inc is gaining attention as the US presidential campaign advances. Thanks to the young Indian American Republican contender Vivek Ramaswamy, ‘it is the government’s job to protect social justice and that it should not be left to the corporate board rooms in the name of Wokeism’ is receiving the extra limelight.
Who is Ramaswamy
Being ‘woke’ has been the norm lately, signalling that one is being aware of social injustices. Tying woke to corporate platforms, particularly when driving investment decisions by Environment, Social, and Governmental (ESG) concerns is where the Anti-Woke crusade has begun and is being amplified in the Republican circles. Not many took Ramaswamy seriously back in February when he announced his decision to run for president. Ramaswamy is a well-accomplished Harvard and Yale alumni, a successful biotech entrepreneur, a partner of an investment firm and a well-known author. But to contend in the presidential elections at just 37 years of age, with no prior political exposure, was not seen coming.
Nevertheless, Ramaswamy is making a steady attempt to be heard. In this journey, he has articulated vociferous sentiments on what Republicans stand up for. Usual jargon of fixing the healthcare system, abortion laws or the broken immigration system that used to be recurring subjects of debate every four years do not figure as key points. Instead, the attention is directed on increasing the GDP to address the nation’s perils. Ramaswamy announced that he would attempt to increase economic efficiency by shutting down the politically corrupt and economically draining administrative wings including the Department of Education, FBI, and this list goes on.
Quite strikingly, he called for the need to strengthen the nuclear families which could mean a lot to the upbringing of the children and addressing mental health. His stance against transgenderism and his views on gun violence being the result of broken families burdened with mental health issues resonated well among conservatives.
What is anti-Woke?
However, it is the anti-woke campaign and the hit on stakeholder capitalism that is making it interesting. Social justice is best achieved with rules made in Congress and not by holding the corporate world to react, is his message. Furthered by his book Woke Inc., Ramaswamy could take his anti-woke sentiments with clarity and conviction. No doubt ESG initiatives are best initiated to keep businesses aligned with social goals, be it providing equal opportunities for every citizen irrespective of race, gender, or other differences; or caring for the environment by limiting the carbon footprint on the atmosphere. In reality, these have become mere announcements, failing to deliver actual social impact.
Be it the issue of gun violence, or the Black Lives Matter Movement, woke actions have been keeping the differences alive instead of knocking them off is the majority view.
As the anti-ESG advocates point out, a new class of auditors or regulators who either find ways to greenwash the companies’ or be an intimidator watching the company’s stands on social issues to impact its ESG ratings is becoming a reality. The corporate goal of making profits by delivering the products and services that customers want, no longer remains the way businesses operate.
An Indo-American US President?
With Ramaswamy being the youngest ever to run for the presidency, the first ever Indian American, the first-ever Hindu faith follower, with no prior political experience and with Former President Trump still standing tall in the Republican race, his chances of making it to the top in the primaries itself may be very thin. The first primary debate scheduled on August 23rd is a much-awaited one. However, the anti-woke thoughts that he amplified on the Republican campaign trail are here to stay for long.
For many of the Indian-origins, Ramaswamy’s looks, accent, thinking and vigour just match with their aspirations. Never know, if the right winds blow, we may read an Indian name written on the annals of history as the President of the United States of America.
