i don't know who's downvoting you. As an american who had to go through that shit, you're not at all wrong.

Selfishness and greed. Anyone that stands up stands alone, and the others are quick to lick a boot as they grovel for scraps. For some inconceivable reason too many consider this preferable to standing together and working to make things better.

North American here. Funny how it's very much less "which is it?" And more "Yeah. Basically."

We've been culturally domesticated to not cause trouble for our bosses / schools / etc. If the State steps in after you cause trouble for enterprise, it's usually to kick you back into your place.

We might not live in a State dictatorship, but that only matters so far, because that State enables many tiny, petty dictatorships that more directly affect your life and run amok unopposed.

Somehow people accept petty tyranny in everything from corporations to universities to shifts at the burger joint. They'll get all riled up that some politician they never met is bawking about foreign policy, but their tail is tucked firmly when their company tells them they can't get sick days and arriving a minute late is a fireable offense.

Many have bought the lies of rugged individualism and competition. "An insult to one is...well, that really sucks for you but I told you to just stay quiet. I'm just working hard doing what I'm told."

Like someone said before me: Even the most rebellious in us think twice about making our move, because many people simply think "That's how it is." And don't believe it can get any better.

There's not a lot of examples of collective action winning in recent history, so a lot of people don't even know how to begin to push back in the first place, besides writing an angry tweet or two.

Even worse, they are gaslighted into thinking intellectual property exctracting rent is completely fine and actually desirable.

Where was this? The practice described above is common in US universities.

Your university has a principal's office?