@yzhengyu's experience is representative of my own, though without the same degree of politics. Even in conversations with those who should know better, it's nearly impossible to put technical debt payback ahead of new business requirements. Attempts to quantify it (additional time to deliver = lost opportunity = money) are fuzzy at best.

I really think the only practical way to combat code rot is at the leaf nodes, without telling anybody. Perhaps we ought to have a secret oath that all developers take. "On my honor, I will do my best, to do my duty to Knuth and my Profession and to obey Postel's Law..."