In my opinion, this is what happens when things become "Serious Business". Silicon Valley and its individuals have become so powerful and wealthy that the stake

In my opinion, this is what happens when things become "Serious Business". Silicon Valley and its individuals have become so powerful and wealthy that the stakes are insanely high. Imagine working your way up from the middle class to fabulous riches. Cars, houses, 5 star travel. You have the american dream, things are good. Now people are coming in and challenging you. The culture of "challenge everything" is a huge risk to your empire, your comfortable life is at risk. Quick! Consume the challengers or burn them at the stake! That's why DC is like this; they have power over an entire country (arguably the world, too). Everyone there needs to be incredibly careful, there's 1000 people waiting to eat them alive and take their job/power. If you want an environment where people challenge things, go where nobody is looking. Go somewhere that the MBAs and C-levels have given up. Those are the places where nothing matters, so you are free to make mistakes and break as much as possible; you can't do any worse than what's already there.