Part of it is the biggest block that most engineers face:
NIH Syndrome - Not Invented Here.
People with big egos and little backing never accept solutions outside their chosen circle, because that would be to implicitly admit their own weaknesses. That regardless of what they had been spouting, they are NOT the smartest or the best.
So you ignore the best solutions, and go forward with what your own, limited, inexperienced group comes up with. And you don’t solve the problem. And you lash out at everyone else.
It’s what children and those who think with their heart not their head do. As well as PHBs (Pointy Haired Bosses). Obama’s ego is huge and fragile, and his knowledge - and those of his chosen inner circle and advisors - is severely lacking. But no, they cannot ask for outside help because that would admit that The One doesn’t know all, he’s not the one we’ve been waiting for...
Ego. Pure and simple. Ego.
PSC, well put!! You are so right. Try the system, suck in their ego, get the damn oil from the water. I LIVE on the Ms Gulf coast, there was Katrina now BP oil spill. BP’s, ‘Barack’s Problem’, is going to be big time hits on our coast. SIL works at a casino, their business has been cut in half since the spill and lots of layoffs. Me, just a one each old man (74) weatching a wonderful coast(s) go to hell in a hand basket.
Toby