I made it all the way to 2nd Class; my son dropped out immediately after bridging from Cubs. Scouting is about the individual in a group context. The individual scout determines his goals, not some mandatory requirement set for him by society. And so it should be in life in this land of the free. It is the individual that matters, not some socialistic view of the ideal and collectivism. Tom, be a cynic because sometimes cynics are right and you are this time in my opinion.