> Ive found way more difficult managers than difficult employees in my career.

Yep. They set the tone. And if the manager's tone is not one of honesty, the ICs will intuitively not continue to be honest. Because they intuitively know that honesty will get penalized.

At a certain point the rot starts from the head.

Amazing how a few bad senior managers can allow for so much bad behavior.

Well... were you ever a manager to actually know that?

what do you mean it's an interactive system of shitiness?