SNAFU principle /sna'foo prin'si-pl/ /n./
[from a WWII Army acronym for "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"]
"True communication is possible only between equals, because
inferiors are more consistently rewarded for telling their
superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth."
-- a central tenet of Discordianism, often invoked by hackers to
explain why authoritarian hierarchies screw up so reliably and
systematically.
The effect of the SNAFU principle is a progressive disconnection
of decision-makers from reality. This lightly adapted version of
a fable dating back to the early 1960s illustrates the phenomenon
perfectly:


In the beginning was the plan,
and then the specification;
And the plan was without form,
and the specification was void.

And darkness was on the faces of the implementors thereof;
And they spake unto their leader, saying:
"It is a crock of shit, and smells as of a sewer."


And the leader took pity on them,
and spoke to the project leader:
"It is a crock of excrement,
and none may abide the odor thereof."


And the project leader
spake unto his section head, saying:
"It is a container of excrement,
and it is very strong, such that none may
abide it."


The section head then hurried to his department
manager,and informed him thus:
"It is a vessel of fertilizer,
and none may abide its strength."


The department manager carried these words
to his general manager,
and spoke unto him saying:
"It containeth that which aideth the growth of
plants, and it is very strong."


And so it was that the general manager rejoiced
and delivered the good news unto the Vice President.
"It promoteth growth, and it is very powerful."


The Vice President rushed to the President's side,
and joyously exclaimed:
"This powerful new software product
will promote the growth of the company!"


And the President looked upon the product,
and saw that it was very good.


After the subsequent and inevitable disaster, the suits protect
themselves by saying "I was misinformed!", and the implementors
are demoted or fired.

Indeed, it is the truth even to this day.