We've been in a leadership position in this industry for quite some time. Just a thought ... but how about WE raise the bar more than slightly better than BK+COLA?

I know it's a lot and it won't be easy. But if not us, then who? Do you really think if we wait for somebody else to do it, that it's ever going to happen? We've set the tone and provided the leadership for this profession for the past decade. And the tone we've set and the leadership we've provided says that we don't ever expect to restore the buying power of our compensation. It says we've accepted bankruptcy as a reset and only expect "reasonable" improvements to that new baseline.

You can't have it both ways, T. Either your goal is restoration... which means you have to put on your big boy pants and not be afraid to say it. Or you're goal is something far short of that. It seems clear which way you lean. You want to pay lip service to restoration every now and then, but then every argument you make is counter to it. Might as well just go ahead and wave that white flag (while wearing your life preserver in case somebody else rocks the boat).