It's not that you deserve less respect, it's that jobs need to be done. Obviously, the higher ranks aren't going to do the shitty jobs. Much like a CEO isn't going to mail his own letters, or fix his own computer. Every occupation has a ladder, or chain of command, so to speak.
Well what would you suggest in a situation like the military? I guess everyone could all hold hands and work together, generals and privates a like...
What does that have to do with this conversation? Are you really trying to compare the military's chain of command to racism. Sounds like you're fishing for something to say...
Your comparison is seriously lacking, I'll explain why.
In a corporate environment someone starting at the bottom starts as a mail delivery person, or general "go for", not a janitor. Janitors have their own jobs, and most aren't aspiring to be corporate management, nor are most qualified. That CEO probably started out pretty low on the ladder though, and I doubt he's willing to regress after all the time he's put in.
In the military everyone starts from the absolute bottom. Since there's no distinction between mechanic and infantryman, everyone is a soldier. ALL soldiers have to do things like guard duty or shit details. Even that 4 star general did it once. Obviously the general who has been in 20 something years isn't going to be sweeping the courtyard or mopping the floors, he has more important jobs to tend to. An E1's time is dispensable though.
At least you admit it.