A peculiarity exists here in the political world. If you do your work in a way that saves your manager's bacon, do it well enough that there's no question of your abilities, and you show no threat at all to your manager, there's a very high chance that a manager will treat you very well. They know a winning horse when they see one and will do what it takes to protect it.

Of course this doesn't mean they'll freely drop a raise on your table. You go ask for it. The difference is you'll rarely if ever get assigned any bs targets assigned because the manager knows they don't have the control over you. You could walk out and they'll lose and you'll still likely win a job. It's lose lose for them.

Delicate balances exist here such as how much you get paid Vs the manager and what not. Also, this does depend on your manager not being self destructive.

Generally though I dont say this as something to subscribe to. And I'm glad I no longer deal with this. Good managers are good at coaching and leading. They'll do what it takes to make a team that's happy and does the work as needed as opposed to creating a single star.

But something I learnt as I gave up some of my youthful idealisms is that everywhere there are differing flavours of politics. As long as it's not identity based discrimination or anything else illegal:

Don't fight against it. The company doesn't need revolutionaries no matter how much better you think it'll make the company.

Don't fight in it. Most people get busy trying to play the system and get played instead.

Work with the currents. Take what you need. Call it a day. It's less "fulfilling" but at the same time it's always less draining and you get to be at peace with things eventually.

There is one alternative that can work with decent management - make a case to them that they value. The approach varies person to person. Some are refreshed by nonsense attitudes others find it abhorrent. While some places may find saying "the current dongle system is bullshit it costs us hundreds per product for something already freely crackable by a google search and a download just drop it or at very least roll our own easily crackable but only if you know enough programming solution" others may value frankness or realize implications and agree while others find admission of flaws abhorrent. If they think it is a good idea and you want it done there is no harm in your idea being stolen and getting them to start not being as cheap if they realize and take to heart that human labor is the expensive part not office supplies.

Like making a point with math for ram upgrades showing an estimate of salary costs discussing it alone vs just getting a new one. Or pointing out how say cost savings via getting rid of free drinks negate themselves with one additional turnover from interviewing time costs alone.