They're Heeeeeeere...
Oxy:
Actually, what you envision has been going on for about fifteen years; it's one of the reasons I'm grateful I got to bid Corporate America adieu and pursue other career options.
About 1992 or so, I began to notice that young people coming into the workplace had less than no idea of the "rules of the road". They didn't understand about dress codes, they didn't see any particular need to show up on time, they didn't think there was anything wrong with starting the workday unshaven or with hair still wet from the shower and a sackful of Mickey D's for a leisurely breakfast at their desk.
I saw this generation blow off sales with unthinking rudeness to clients and a "manana" attitude towards fulfilling commitments. Later, when these people assumed some managerial responsibility, I saw serious ethical problems involving company funds and contractual double-speak. One manager under whom I worked was shifting sales he had nothing to do with away from sales reps who'd actually done the work, pocketing commissions he had not earned. These embezzlements funded his BMW, his Rolex, his Montblanc pen, and his high-roller lunches. Upper management did not listen until finally the sales reps formed a posse and got the D.A. to investigate. Mr. Wonderful, who eventually did eighteen months in stir, got all upset because the company fired him- he actually expected to come back to his job, with all forgiven and forgotten.
We have at least two generations out there now who have never been accountable to ANYBODY. Their transgressions have been overlooked, or forgiven, or explained away for them. They have no moral compass whatever, because they've essentially raised themselves. They think whatever they do is okay, because it works for THEM.
They're out there, and they're everywhere. Especially Washington.
