That's exactly what I'm talking about here. Collectives don't automatically preclude competition, and well functioning ones encourage good natured internal competition from which the whole group benefits, while generally competing against OTHER collectives for many of the same goals. It just doesn't have to be the kind of competition that leaves the loser face down in the gutter. I actually had to go back and re-read what I wrote, because I couldn't remember saying anything critical about it and you seem to think I did. Here's the only occurrence of the word "competitive" in my post:

"I'm convinced that that more than anything else is what happened to Americas competitive edge. "

Does that SOUND like I'm opposed to all competition? I just don't think it has to be incessant at every level, or a fight to the death. That makes as little sense as saying everyone should cooperate with everyone else about everything and never compete with anyone. Which is to say, no sense at all.

And, yeah, when I find a moment to breathe I'll get on it, but mandatory OT doesn't leave time to do much more than sleep and (every couple days) eat at the moment. Though in all honesty I think I'd be hard pressed to top this weeks crop of high profile low level resignations; probably just an amusing coincidence....