Following another calamitous night of bloodshed where nobody was really sure who was shooting at who, and few could tell friend from foe, we find ourselves at another point of self-reflection; an opportunity to put events under the microscope and really examine the cause and effect of the night’s shambolic performance. Is a lack of genuine leadership the cause? Well, allow me to regale you with a story.

Once upon a time, there was a spirited debate about accountability where the following statement was uttered:

Oh so you have to talk to you Godfather on how to run you crew? My godmother put me in this position because she knew that i can handle anything that came my way. 

Not the best of stories, perhaps, but I was reminded of this fairly recently, by a descendant of their lineage mourning the loss of a colleague - I shall spare their line’s blushes, and not name the individual. This descendant supports the current regime - and therefore, by extension, the status quo, whereby two low level wise guys are behind the scenes, shamelessly pulling the strings of far more powerful puppets, and I must admit to being surprised at the change of heart this gentleman had undergone.

Some may call it brazen hypocrisy, but I’ll be charitable in my interpretation for the time being. This sudden change of heart made me question a number of things - are standards slipping? Have the old guard given up trying to enforce the ways of old? Or are rules and traditions only expected to be followed by those not currently in power?

Sure, it’s human nature to afford your friends some degree of leeway when it comes to this sort of thing. We’ve all overlooked minor misdemeanours; small acts of misbehaviour undertaken by our friends, and I don’t claim to be any different. As a relative bystander, I’m curious how far this dynamic could be pushed, however - what would an associate of yours have to do that would make the scales fall from your eyes? Is there anything so egregious that you would choose common sense over blind loyalty? Is the rogue killing of an entire city something that should be forgiven and forgotten, particularly when it comes with such a large cost as it has last night?

Dear listener, I would assert not. I would posit that the status quo serves us ill, and that we deserve better than the incompetent cronyism we’re forced to endure at this juncture, but I shall cede the floor for dissenting voices, should they wish to support this disastrous bin-fire we are led to believe is “effective leadership”. What say you, listener? Status quo, or no?