> It is perfect, as perfect as human beings have achieved. Consider these stats : the last three versions of the program — each 420,000 lines long-had just one error each. The last 11 versions of this software had a total of 17 errors. Commercial programs of equivalent complexity would have 5,000 errors.
> The product is only as good as the plan for the product.
> Take the upgrade of the software ... a change that involves just 1.5% of the program, or 6,366 lines of code. The specs for that one change run 2,500 pages, a volume thicker than a phone book. The specs for the current program fill 30 volumes and run 40,000 pages.
> Don't just fix the mistakes — fix whatever permitted the mistake in the first place.
> Ten years ago the ... group was considered world-class. Since then, it has cut its own error rate by 90%.
- All from http://www.fastcompany.com/28121/they-write-right-stuff
Not every piece of software needs such an obsessive approach - but, there are pieces of software that absolutely do need such an obsessive approach!
In other words, there isn't a single binary correct answer for every choice. There are some things that are best decided at the neighborhood level, there are some things that are best decided at the global level, and there are are many things that are best decided at levels in between.
It seems to me a national approach, with significant input from the states, seems like a very appropriate level for something like an interstate road system. Particularly given our already successful history with the National Highway System [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstate_Highway_System].
Why is it bizarre to consider an approach that is logical and has already been demonstrated to be effective?