Source: Why the United States is having a coronavirus data crisis
We have had COVID-19 data for months that we couldn’t (and still can’t) use because institutional legal team got in the way. We have had very important COVID-19 research designs that we could not even collect because it sits waiting approval. Most of the world had contributed to an international data consortium, but certain countries tied their part up … worse, these special snowflakes insisted on altering what data was collected, reducing the quality of their contribution.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t the USA, they’ve been great, but they have some outstanding pragmatic people in the lead who say “Yes. This is important” and work to make it happen. Certain other countries, not many, are administrative heavy, who insist on “flexing”, effectively saying “No. My opinion is important” and work to make sure they leave their mark, usually messing things up quite a bit – so we’re left scrambling to find a technical solution to squeeze any value out of what they have done.
If you’re not doing your level best to push things forward and contribute, if you’re constantly finding roadblocks, looking for reasons to say “No.”, then you’re in the way – and everyone can see it, although your position might prevent us from telling you directly. You are obstructionist; please note that every obstructionist thinks they are being helpful and insightful. You are not.