politics

I actually really love how america has this deep level of culture of people (in this case, both the driver and the company execs) willing to be disobedient to authority in service of higher principles

The culture exists because the government doesn't use brutal methods to subjugate its citizens yet. 

It's all very nice to be brave and defend your principles but you know what would happen to this driver and company execs in Russia. 

Driver would get dragged off the bus & beaten to a pulp before being taken to jail for further pleasantries. Company execs would also be arrested and the company itself would be sold to the president's buddy.