The ideal of self-improvement carries with it an openness to change. Some people seem to think the best way to protect the credit union movement is to resist any policy, any change, that didn't originate with credit unions themselves. For example, some proposal by the National Credit Union Administration. Perhaps they fear that if you go along with someone else's reasonable ideas, you'll establish some sort of precedent and have to go along with their unreasonable ideas, as well. Whatever the reason, it can be very easy to fall into a pattern of having a negative reflex reaction to outside proposals for reform.
Many trade associations operate that way in Washington.
They think it's a real badge of strength to be able to deep-six even reasonable proposals originating outside the trade association. They can show they're an 800-pound gorilla. They can show they can't be touched. It's a very macho mentality. I believe that credit union ideals point in a very different direction.