I would suggest reading this little blurb by the author of the book “Predictably Irrational”. This article is the quintessential example of what engineers understand, and what politicians do not:
There are no “Silver Bullets” — Only challenging Trade-offs.
Mayor Bloomberg disregards basic economic theory and behavioral psychology, which epitomizes the economic illiteracy plaguing our politicians at local, state, and national levels… For all of our benefit, we really need a revitalization of practical American capitalism similar to that espoused by Milton Friedman.
Hat tip to Leonard