Regarding why districts are failing, in some cases you got longtime volunteers who have been ignored and abused by pros, and they are fed up with it. They are told they will be treated differently by the new pros, but it is the same old, same old.

While the Cubs may be gone, You have a few, and I stress a FEW, who still treat the Webelos/AOL program like it was originally intended to be: a transition program from Cubs to Scouts. Usually those Cub Scout Leaders are long time Cub Scout leader who were Cub Scout basic Leader trained, or newer leaders who have either trained under, or been mentored by, older Leaders who have been around a while. IMHO, the training for WDLs is the problem as I got rid of that information.  

Sadly I know several councils where numbers were fudged. Heck one SE and DFS had a reputation for doing this, and using the DEs as scapegoats to get out of trouble. It was so well known that I was warned to watch my back with them by a SE I knew.    As @Ojomanstated, if you want to kill your career in Scouting, be a whistleblower. I have met pros, really good ones IMHO, that found some shady stuff, reported, and were penalized.    

Jameson76: I would point out that those articles are about membership practices at a local council level and are two decades old. Personally I only know of one executive that 'fudged' membership and I reported it to the new Scout Exec and I got disciplined for it and the membership stayed on the books for a couple of years. I have to say that in 30 years in the profession that is the only case that I can claim to have direct knowledge of and it was Learning for Life, no scoutreach. Not to say that some individuals have not padded the books but it is a practice that will get you fired if it gets to the area or national level. However, I do also believe that if you want to dead end your career in the BSA just be a whistleblower... IMHO... based on my experience. (PS: my experience was a bit over 2 decades ago too).

I have always viewed the BSA structure as an upside down pyramid with the broad base of units and youth members on top and narrow bands of volunteers, districts, councils areas, and finally national all in support. I don't always feel that way these days. It varies from council to council and even district to district. Properly run councils and districts are doing a credible job in difficult times while others frankly are failing. While I feel my present council is failing I know with the right leadership it can turn around. I hope that happens and soon. The program is too valuable to families and youths to continue to watch it falter.