Will things get better?

Let me circle back to the topic of perspectives for a second.

I think we just have to power through this transition period.
Honestly, I’ve felt like we were in limbo for ages, but that’s just how things work around here. If everything suddenly went perfect, I think I'd actually have a heart attack. 😁

I took a little trip out to the Hudson Valley this past Saturday and ended up touring a historic estate near the end of the day.
Even with the winter chill, the fog, and the rain, it was a great time.
I even overheard some tourists saying we're basically a mini Switzerland—we just need to polish things up for more visitors.
You can already see the shift happening: local wine trails, new signage, manicured yards, and rural tourism are finally picking up steam.
Plus, there are tons of small family businesses in that area doing really well, some even exporting their goods.

Yeah, I think if we all just put in a little effort and stop expecting miracles overnight, we'll get there.

the old wives' tale goes:
I find myself in total agreement with your assessment. Despite the systemic failures—which, let’s be honest, aren't just an issue at AT&T but are symptomatic of our entire corporate culture here—I have personally witnessed a handful of instances where individuals arriving from overseas managed to secure rather lucrative positions at AT&T.

The reality is quite blunt: within any state-backed corporation, you are essentially trapped between two outcomes. You either operate under a mediocre compensation structure dictated by rigid internal regulations, or you negotiate a high-level executive contract. There is virtually no room for the middle or upper management tier to thrive, a deficiency that manifests clearly in their operational performance.