Status Report

Stupid. Cruel. Chaotic. Corrupt. Deceitful. Amoral. Greedy. Shortsighted. Vengeful. Racist. Incompetent. Divisive. Lewd. Unethical. Dishonest. Unreliable. Gaudy. Polarizing. Shady. Unstable. Ignorant. Reckless. Insensitive. Unorganized. Erratic. Vindictive. Misleading. Inflammatory. Insular. Deceptive. Unprincipled. Tacky. Belligerent. Disrespectful. Hostile. Demagogic. Untrustworthy. Petty. Parochial. Foolish. Crooked. Spiteful. Bigoted. Inept. Irresponsible. Vicious. Narcissistic. Unscrupulous. Callous. Duplicitous. Dumb.

What would you say about someone who could be described with this set of adjectives? Would you invite them into your inner circle? Would you be proud to have them coach your kids’ soccer team? Would you nominate them to run your local homeowner association?

Would you do business with an organization that displayed these qualities? Would you be proud to be a part of such an organization? Would you want to put your future in its hands? Wouldn’t you be seeking a business partner that aligned more closely with your values?

The fact that these questions even need to be asked is an embarrassing problem. It creates massive cognitive dissonance when we internalize that this set of descriptors applies to us. No one would want to be described this way. Yet, when the leaders that we selected behave this way, it reflects on all of us. The actions of the administration are being taken in our name. This is us. We cannot claim that we are not complicit in lawlessness. We are.

I realize that there are no easy answers and that any individual has a limited ability to effect change. I still believe in the fundamental virtues of the American people, and I think that a revival of those values is on the horizon. It is too easy to fall victim to despair. All we can do is point out the hypocrisy and behaviors that are inconsistent with our founding principles.

As a business leader, I have always applied the “no asshole” rule to every organization. Bad people with questionable ethics are poison to a company. Their presence and influence cannot be tolerated. They will drag down the entire firm. This is our only way out. We’ve got to stand up for the ideals that made us the greatest country on earth. The rebuilding effort will likely take a couple of generations at enormous expense, but we did this to ourselves.

I pray that we have learned a lesson and that there is enough virtue left in the American people to restore our democracy and reclaim our position as a beacon of hope for others.