and everything said here is true. It may not be the complete story but it's all true.

BSA has (like just about everything else) wussified itself. A huge part of the problem is the attempted management of liability risk, which has become onerous paperwork in order to get a Tour Permit from the local council. As mentioned in reference to river permits in the West this results in "permit fever", by God we got a Tour Permit for this and we are damn well gonna do it this weekend. What's the problem with a little severe thunderstorm warning?

Every scout troop has become an "Eagle Mill" where an activity is only worth doing if it completes a requirement for something. It's a checklist mentality. I was never a scout but got into it with my son. It is a great program when it is done right. Our Scoutmaster has slowed down on the rush to Eagle for our scouts, but it is more to keep the older boys in the troop longer than anything. He is still all about the recognition that he earns within the Council and OA more than what the boys actually learn.

IMO, what scouting should be about citizenship, community responsibility, personal responsibility & character, leadership, outdoor & technical skills, recognition (in that order). What it has become, babysitting for single parents and kids who aren't accepted anywhere else. I do what I can to help out the ones I can. A lot of them do come away with real experience that will last them a lifetime, some of them just don't get it and probably never will.

And yeah, I'm as guilty as any father that pushes his son toward Eagle Scout. I realize the tangible benefits that it can bring and have an attitude that I have put in too much time myself for him not to get there. So I see that side as well.