Quote:
Originally posted by island911
Or, perhaps, I see you down in the thick of the forest, telling me aaaalllll about the forest based on your view of a few tree's.
....perhaps.
supe . . you seem to be lost. 
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I'd have had this same emotional reaction if I were in your shoes.
I'm not entirely sure what you do, Island, but I'd bet that there are concepts and practices in your profession that look curious to outsiders. "Hey, why don't you just do it this way?" When you receive these questions, you smile. Because you know the answers. What if those outsiders just went around pointing out how stupid you are? I am absolutely certain that if you spent a month inside WSDOT, and were privy to mid-to-high level planning and design discussions......well......I'm just pretty sure of what would NOT happen. I'm pretty sure you would not come away from that experience telling everyone what idiots they are at WSDOT. I'm certain you would have some additional appreciation for the considerations they have to deal with, and the care with which they make those decisions. I've heard those discussions. Engineers solving problems is very cool. I'd agree that there are severe problems with gubmint, but as you know I place those in the elected branch much more than the administration branch.
But perhaps, as you say, perhaps my inside vantage point is twisted. It's just that this principle works everywhere, whether I am an insider or an outsider. Looking from the outside, stuff looks silly. Decisions are real head-scratchers. Until I start asking questions. Then comes the "Ah hah" moments that place my silly assumptions in perspective.