The Rise of the Righteous Ratbag: When Progressives Pushed Too Far

For two decades, millions of service members fought in wars for democracy and human rights, enduring trauma and loss in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

But when they came home, many were met with a gut-wrenching reality: the world they thought they were defending had fundamentally changed in their absence.

A cultural shift had unfolded, leaving traditional identities questioned, gender boundaries blurred, and society increasingly divided over what progress should mean.

It’s no surprise, then, that frustration is boiling over, especially among those who feel they’ve been left behind or even betrayed by a world that now tells them the things they valued most are outdated.

One sign of this pushback is the resurgence of a type: the “ratbag,” the loud, unapologetically defiant figure who doesn’t care about modern sensibilities. He sees society leaning into ideals of inclusivity and authenticity but only on specific, progressive terms.

Consider this: if men can now compete against women in sports—a radical bending of traditional norms—why can’t men be unashamedly male chauvinists? If freedom of expression is truly celebrated, why does it feel like only certain expressions make the cut?

The ratbag’s resurgence isn’t just a caricature; it’s a cultural backlash against what many see as progressive overreach, where tolerance applies only selectively.

The Left’s Lost Hold on the Working Class

The frustration isn’t just about social values; it’s deeply rooted in economics and class. The progressive left once held a strong grip on the working class, but that connection has frayed over the years.

In the U.S., the left’s emphasis on identity politics and the environment has alienated working-class men who feel the impact of these changes most acutely. It’s telling that in places like Denmark, the left recognized this drift and took measures to reconnect with pensioners and working-class voters, finding common ground on issues that resonate with people’s everyday lives.

 By doing so, they managed to weaken the influence of the anti-immigrant right, proving that when the left cares about people’s real economic concerns, it can still rally a broad coalition.

But that battle is ongoing, and it reveals a truth that progressive movements in other countries can’t ignore: until they reconnect with the working class, their path to power is precarious at best.

Climate Policy and the Hard Shift in Jobs

One of the left’s biggest blind spots in this disconnection is climate policy. While addressing the climate crisis is crucial, the transitions it demands often come at the expense of traditional working-class jobs.

 For generations, coal miners, steelworkers, and factory mechanics defined what it meant to have a “good job”—one rooted in skill, sweat, and a sense of purpose. But today, as industries shift to more sustainable practices, those old roles are disappearing. What’s on offer instead?

Jobs installing solar panels or working in the service industry, roles that often don’t match the pride or pay of the work they replace. It’s easy to say, “At least you have a job,” but for many, these new roles feel like an erosion of identity.

As I wrote recently, people care more about their energy bills than windmills. The same goes for work: people prefer stability to an uncertain future with a job that doesn’t fulfill the old expectations.

And let’s be honest: these shifts affect men disproportionately. For a mechanic who spent his life working on internal combustion engines, being told he’s now a “tire balancer” doesn’t resonate as an equivalent. Twenty years ago, America outsourced manufacturing jobs in a wave of shareholder-driven globalization, hollowing out communities that once thrived on stable, well-paid blue-collar work. 

Now, those same communities are offered jobs that, while environmentally progressive, don’t match the skills or identity they lost. Is it any wonder they’re angry?

They’ve been through a slow, painful decline of their world, watching as the jobs that were their pride and purpose were sold to the lowest bidder. 

The Ratbag as a Voice for the Angry and Disillusioned

The ratbag’s appeal, then, isn’t hard to understand. He’s a voice for the disillusioned, the people who feel like society pulled the rug out from under them. The recent election results reflect this, with voters rallying around figures who reject “woke” ideals and champion more traditional views unapologetically.

The ratbag embodies a backlash not just against progressive policies, but against the double standards that come with them. He sees a system that claims to embrace diversity yet treats traditional values as relics to be discarded or even shamed.

The left’s focus on inclusivity is, at its best, a vital and necessary expansion of rights. But there’s a perception—especially among working-class men—that this inclusivity doesn’t extend to them. They feel pushed into a corner, told to adapt or get out of the way. For those who still see masculinity and traditional roles as a valid identity, the rise of inclusivity has brought with it a sense of restriction, as if they must conform to values that don’t reflect their own lives or beliefs.

Jobs, Identity, and the Struggle for Stability

This is about more than jobs; it’s about identity and the right to hold onto it in the face of sweeping change. Work is personal, especially for the working class, and when that identity is forced into a new shape—one that doesn’t fit the old pride and purpose—the frustration goes deeper than a paycheck.

It’s about feeling disconnected from a society that seems to prioritize abstract ideals over real lives, about seeing one’s values and purpose pushed aside for policies that sound good on paper but feel hollow on the ground.

There’s an irony here: progressive policies that seek to create a more inclusive world end up alienating those they claim to help. As manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas for shareholder gain, what was left behind was a hollowed-out workforce that never knew what hit them.

These men—working-class, traditionally minded, and increasingly disillusioned—are now watching as a new world unfolds, one that doesn’t feel like it has a place for them.

The Rise of the Ratbag in the World of Work: A Growing Disconnect

The corporate world is feeling the rumblings of the ratbag phenomenon too. In organizations, the original outspoken ratbags—the ones who pushed boundaries and questioned norms—have largely gone underground, hiding from the watchful eyes of HR and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives.

Once vocal about their views, today’s corporate ratbags know the risks of standing out in a culture that now demands a specific form of inclusivity, climate consciousness, and nurturing leadership.

But have these new ideals created a contradiction in the workplace?

The modern corporate ideal—climate-friendly, gender-aware, nurturing, and "decent"—sets a high bar that few leaders can fully meet. 

Many leaders now find themselves walking a tightrope, performing these values outwardly while privately struggling with how far they diverge from their natural style. For some, this new corporate expectation feels less like a call to authenticity and more like a checklist that restricts real expression. 

They wonder: how did we arrive at a place where conformity to an ideal of “nonconformity” has become the rule?

 In this context, some leaders—and even employees—become what we might call “closet ratbags,” outwardly adopting the progressive language and symbols expected of them, but quietly resisting or even resenting these demands.

They operate under the radar, using passive forms of dissent: disengaging from initiatives they feel miss the mark, paying lip service in DEI trainings, or rolling their eyes privately at environmental pledges that don’t align with the company’s actual priorities.

They’re pushing back, but they do so quietly, careful to stay within the new boundaries. What does it say about organizational culture when genuine feelings of resistance must be hidden, even from leaders themselves?

There’s also a certain hypocrisy that’s hard for many employees to ignore. Organizations present a highly polished image of progressive values—encouraging climate awareness, gender equity, and empathy—yet behind closed doors, the old pressures to perform, to meet numbers, and to prioritize shareholders often remain untouched.

It raises a question: are these values truly embedded, or are they just part of a corporate performance?

What does it mean when leaders are held to an impossible ideal that even the organization itself can’t fully embody?

These new standards also risk alienating some of the very leaders organizations once relied on. Those with decades of experience leading through directness, drive, and bottom-line focus may feel like their skills and style are not just undervalued but actively discouraged.

If they don’t fit the modern corporate image, are they still valuable, or are they quietly being edged out? How does this pressure to conform to a specific type of “progressive” leadership align with the value of diversity, if diversity of thought or style is stifled in the process?

 For many employees, this double standard between corporate ideals and actual practice is glaring.

Leaders promote climate-conscious policies while prioritizing cost-cutting measures that undermine these very goals.

Inclusivity is lauded, but traditional perspectives are unwelcome, even if held by the very workers whose values have historically driven the business forward. These contradictions leave employees asking:

If inclusivity and authenticity are truly valued, why must everyone fit into one mold? And if these values are real, why do leaders have to play a part to meet them?

The result is an organizational culture where leaders and employees alike question what’s real and what’s performative.

Are these new standards for leadership helping organizations move forward, or are they creating a culture of silent dissent and disengagement? 

What happens when the values of authenticity and inclusivity appear so rigidly defined that they create their own barriers?

And in the end, how much of the push toward climate consciousness, gender awareness, and decency is truly driven by belief—and how much by the pressure to appear a certain way?

The rise of the underground ratbag, then, may be more than just an expression of discontent; it might be a symptom of a deeper disconnect in the world of work. What does it mean when organizations demand a specific, modern form of conformity in the name of nonconformity?

And if these ideals are now prerequisites for leadership, is the diversity of authentic thought and style being sacrificed in the process?

 Without clear answers, these questions continue to shape the quiet yet potent undercurrent of dissent running through today’s workplaces. 

The Ratbag as a Reaction, Not a Solution

The ratbag isn’t necessarily a solution, and he isn’t some noble hero. He’s a symptom of a deeper frustration with a society that pushes change at the expense of stability, that celebrates inclusivity while sidelining traditional identities.

This rise of the ratbag is a warning sign that progressive ideals, without a bridge to the working class, create a backlash as powerful as the ideals themselves.

As society pushes for a cleaner, more inclusive future, it would be wise to remember that people aren’t just economic units who can be shuffled into new roles. Jobs, identities, values—these are deeply personal. The rise of the ratbag reflects a growing frustration with a world that many feel left behind while they were off defending it, only to return and find it transformed.

In the end, people want more than just a paycheck; they want purpose and respect. The question isn’t whether we should change, but how we can do it without bulldozing the people whose livelihoods, values, and identities are at stake.

If progressives can’t find a way to reconcile these tensions, the ratbag will only continue to rise—a loud, angry reminder that freedom and inclusivity, without respect for traditional values, will never be as stable as we’d like to believe.

P.S. As an Australian, the idea of the “lovable ratbag” resonates deeply with me. Australia has a unique appreciation for the underdog, the rough-around-the-edges character who doesn’t just accept authority or toe the line for its own sake. Growing up, I was surrounded by these “ratbags” who were often cheeky, rebellious, and unfiltered—characters who spoke up when something didn’t feel right and who weren’t afraid to challenge expectations.

In Australia, the lovable ratbag isn’t just tolerated; they’re celebrated as an essential part of our national identity. It’s this streak of irreverence and resilience that keeps the conversation real and grounded.

And while the corporate world might not always know what to do with a ratbag, I think they bring a necessary perspective, reminding us not to take ourselves too seriously and to stay authentic—even when that authenticity challenges the status quo.

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