Well said. And it seems to me there is no reward for those who point out problems, flaws, faults. Seen as troublemakers, they become ostracized.

Recent events with the Roman Catholic Church and the people who warned of problems with the US financial system are good examples. The issue is ease, not what is right, correct or morally proper. The problems won't be confronted until it becomes easier to confront them than not. It usually takes some ugly situations and some super-confrontational people to force the issues. And then the establishment can express shock, surprise and effect changes.

That it's a top-down affair has always interested me. Any CO can tell his command what behaviors are unacceptable and that becomes the norm once he or she is believed. If a General Officer told his command that all the commanders up and down the line are responsible for what their commands do, the problems would cease. Reprimand all officers for activities in the command, bust him/her down a rank if the matter is not dealt with expeditiously and down two ranks if there is a cover-up and I think there would be miraculous changes.

I'll post a story regarding an investigation I did regarding harassment in the construction industry in my blog.