Quite a telling post. The trend towards disposable leadership started in the 80s and grew at a rapid clip. The trend came to a hed in 2000, when there appears to have been a wholesale lack of concern for the long-term picture and the focus became maximizing the returns each quarter. This attitued also leads to less focus on the technilogical nurturing needed for true innovation. Overall, the result is in a country that no longer competes successfully. Will we find our way back to "renewable" leadership? I think so, but it will take pushing from below to get that to happen.