Thinking: Engineers v. Politicians

A short dialogue to illustrate the different problem-solving approaches of engineers and politicians

Engineers: We need to get X done. How can we best do it with the least risk?

Politicians: I order you not to do X because I am smarter than all of you peasants. Trust me.

Engineers: ?!%$!? dx/dy f(z) + g(h(x)) !!@????!

The Unthinking Masses: Thank you, politician, for saving us. We live to obey you without question.

Engineers: (Grimly retreat to labs to design idiot-proof work-arounds, like we always do.) Sigh!

My sympathies are 100% with the engineers. Thus my frustration with the police state.