Commentary
A “Catch-22” is commonly regarded as an impossible situation in which you can’t achieve one thing until you achieve a second thing. But, you can’t achieve the second thing until you have achieved the first. It’s a dilemma made worse by conflicting interests.
The term comes from Joseph Heller’s 1961 novel “Catch-22.” The story unfolded on an American airbase in Italy during World War II. The main character was Captain John Yossarian, a bombardier in the Army Air Corps who, after many perilous sorties, desperately looked forward to receiving a discharge.
Most aircrews were being rotated out after 25 missions, but to enhance his own reputation, Yossarian’s commander kept raising the required number for an honorable discharge….