A miasma of misery

Kind of an interesting experience reading Are the Democrats Completely Screwing This Up? by Andy Kroll. An analysis of the Democratic campaign for the presidency by a member of the democratic media.

It is mostly inside ball. Probably of interest primarily to committed and passionate insider Democratic party members. Some interesting points but not a lot of insight and it mostly comes across as insiders making tactical excuses for their own failures, bemoaning the absence of a compelling proposition and a resentment of everyone they can plausibly blame for the current morass. And the list of people and things to blame is pretty catholic.

Mostly though, I get the same feeling from reading this article, as I get from commercial clients who have mediocre executive leadership and vigorous competition. They are locked in their old ways, know they need to do something dramatic and different but have no confidence in what that dramatically different thing should be. It is a sorry sight when you see it.

The people are usually good people and accomplished in their own fashion but they are trapped between trade-offs they don't want to make, risks they don't want to confront, and their hunger for rewards that aren't merited any longer.

There is always an inclination to try the same thing as in the past but harder. Or make incremental improvements to remain relevant. Or to simply hope that circumstances will change by waiting it out.

And the reality is often that it is an all-or-nothing situation. You can't guaranty survival by waiting or marginal improvements or doing what you have always done. You have to make radical changes which will either sink you faster or deliver dramatically better outcomes. There is no in-between measure.

It speaks to a loss of vision and spirit.