Edited from the original...
If you are caught wondering about the rigidity of our various entities. Here is what I think has been going on.
The Peter Principle is in effect - people in the hierarchy tend to rise to their "level of incompetence"
Plus...
They have FEAR of losing face if they do anything new or different. Because they are afraid they will do it wrong. "Frozen in place" by fear of losing face - cannot do anything but go by the written rules - disregarding the crisis all around them. The thought of Innovating - allowing the bending of the rules causes great anxiety.