As an employee you have to consider the workplace culture, and your manager's attitude towards his/her "resources" (employees). This is a list of danger signs. You want to be watch for dysfunctional behaviors like this creeping into your work environment, and either combat them if you can, or find a new position. Or, you can accommodate/enable and try to insulate yourself, which is OK in the short-term, as you work towards a longer-term solution.
The culture of the organization and the management chain above you greatly affects your satisfaction and mental well-being. I assure you that, although no workplace is perfect, a few are pretty darn good. And sometimes it's possible to exert influence. Try not to sink too far into cynicism because there is a lot of incompetence and selfish self-interest out there. Use your skills of observation and writing to make things better, or find a place where that's possible.
Sorry if this is preachy.