I agree, the author's application of "the cruelty is the point" misuses the phrase. The article coining that term [1] (accurately) describes the collective joy

I agree, the author's application of "the cruelty is the point" misuses the phrase. The article coining that term [1] (accurately) describes the collective joy Trump fans experience at his rallies when he promises to have American troops commit war crimes [2] or have police physically abuse people convicted of no crime [3]. Trumpists believe in using the state to hurt, even physically, anyone they don't like. To them, Trump's cruelty is literally the point. I don't think that applies to Amazon. It sounds like Amazon just wants labor, as cheaply as possible, and does not care to invest back in its hourly workforce. To simplify, the labor is the point. [1]: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/the-cruelty-is-the-point/572104/ https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/the-cruelt... [2]: https://www.vox.com/2016/1/25/10828770/trump-terrorist-family-appeal https://www.vox.com/2016/1/25/10828770/trump-terrorist-famil... [3]: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/07/28/trump-tells-police-not-to-worry-about-injuring-suspects-during-arrests/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/07/2...