Of missing and insane priorities

One of the worst experiences to have while working in an organization is to come to the realization that the "leaders" don't have strategic objectives, they lie about it to all stake-holders, they refuse to set or keep goals, and they resent employees who try to set or achieve specific goals that would serve common-sensical objectives.

It's a cluster**** and if you try to save them from failure — well, they'll hate you and blame you and do everything they can to assert their hierarchical power over you. They'll condescend, insult, demand you apologize for the errors of others, scold you when you've done a great job, and play all sorts of games designed to make you feel powerless and subservient.

Then you watch as these clueless, rudderless leaders get more authority, promoted past their level of incompetence, and you'd like to cover your ears as they scream inanities that supposedly establish their executive qualifications ("read Machiavelli!", "I'm an accomplished poet!", "my wife is an accomplished poet and can psycho-analyze you based on your pointing out the lack of business strategy in the business plan!", "of course, I understand!", "you know what I mean!", "nobody knows anything!", "you're not a team player!", "you don't understand, it's all theater!", and so on).

How NASA Screwed Up (And Four Ways to Fix It) (Wired):

Here is a set of rational priorities for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, in descending order of importance: (1) Conduct research, particularly environmental research, on Earth, the sun, and Venus, the most Earth-like planet. (2) Locate asteroids and comets that might strike Earth, and devise a practical means of deflecting them. (3) Increase humanity's store of knowledge by studying the distant universe. (4) Figure out a way to replace today's chemical rockets with a much cheaper way to reach Earth orbit.

Here are NASA's apparent current priorities: (1) Maintain a pointless space station. (2) Build a pointless Motel 6 on the moon. (3) Increase humanity's store of knowledge by studying the distant universe. (4) Keep money flowing to favored aerospace contractors and congressional districts.

Only one priority of four correct! ...