I work with a whole culture of managers that would behave exactly the same way. Big corporate culture loves loyal company men he will do just fine in corporate world. Is that good? No but that our reality
We work for very different companies. I work in, and have been a supervisor in, a growing Fortune 500. Myself, my boss, up to the VP in our hierarchy of the organization, are not afraid to speak up, air concerns, say no when it is the right thing to do. I work with a culture of managers very different from yours, is what it sounds like.
We’re not growing, this culture is ultimately destructive but there is plenty of money to be skimmed off the top while producing no or negative value. Growing companies competed for effective leaders, stagnant companies loves management that tells them want they want to hear and that tow the company line. There is a market niche for both unfortunately.
That’s an important distinction to be made - and one that applies to any size company, nonprofit, etc. I will say - I seem to rarely agree with you politically, but the conversation is always civil, and I appreciate that.