If the monopoly is real, put an end to it. Sticking to basics won't always give the best answer. Every so often, a convoluted approach may be valid. But the occasionally perfect will be the enemy of the generally good if you discard the fundamentals whenever they are politically inconvenient. Standing for principles can help academics in government seem more like experts and less like shills.
Consensus democracy breeds sluggish autocracy.
Just like academic administrators, politicians place great stock in consensus. I'm not talking about public appearances, where everyone must seem to be on board. What troubles me is the insistence on consensus behind the scenes. Some of that is understandable. Disagreements force decisions up the chain of command, perhaps all the way to the president.