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The problem is the perceived risk: reward ratio.

What is the risk for a given course of action versus the reward (or potential reward) for that action? Underlying this are our values – our core beliefs.

In the article, General MacArthur clearly saw the risk to American soldiers as having precedence over his own career. A different set of values might have come to a different conclusion.

Presently, our society tends to reward those who behave like Paris Hilton or Donald Trump with money and acclaim. It does not appear to do the same for those such as General MacArthur. Thus, we get what we pay for – i.e., we as a society reward a set of behaviors, consequently encouraging more such behavior. Therefore, to change the behavioral paradigm, we must change the value system of the overall society. Perhaps the challenges we’ll face over the next 10-25 years will accomplish that.