The tradeoff!

Many jobs that engineers are involved with are making intelligent tradeoffs between conflicting parameters. As one parameter is improved the other is worsen! As engineers, we are trained to quantify different tradeoffs, draw some kind of cost/benefit curve, make a rational choice based on our analysis!
One simple example is computer networking’s tradeoff between connectivity and security! This issue has been always discussed but I have yet to see the spark of an analytic justification for decisions made. It is easy to get perfect security, simply disconnect from any network. But while your costs-that is consequences of a successful security breach-have fallen to zero, so have your benefits! The value of a network increases with number of connected users. The more people and computers are connected, the greater will be the information acquired, the commerce attained and so forth. But as your connectivity increases your vulnerability to bad viruses of the network and those posing as friends! How do we make the networking tradeoff? In my mind, by separating those variables on a x-y cost/benefit curve. Plotted along x-axis is the cost associated with the risk of opening the network, while the y-axis measures the benefits of increasing connectivity. The cost in a business environment might be the probable loss of sales, increased liability, or momentary losses due to expected computer intrusion. The value of connectivity could be better operational efficiency more knowledge and satisfied staff!

Having explained all the above, I have to come to the conclusion that more or less on every corner of our life we are facing to establish some kind of cost/benefit analysis. Imagine the medication that you are taking! The side effect vs the health you gain! The years you spend study to become a professional in cost of your productive years which are getting by!
So, what makes me wonder is how Iranian president Dr. Ahamdi Nejad cost/benefit analysis is intact!
For population increase! I wish not to do any further cost/benefit analysis since we have seen once its effect! For nuclear energy production. I can visualize the plot that the cost or prices that Iranian people are paying for possessing nuclear energy and other the y-axis we have the benefits that Iranians are receiving from such technology investment. The prices and cost that are associated with this decision can be expanded as economy sanction from countries around especially the big industrial ones, lack of foreign investment for a country which has to create jobs for its people on 1.5 million bases jobs per year (currently they are creating 100 thousands of that that translates 10% of what is needed according to Iranian media!) and of course isolating Iranians from outside world and may be a war that is destroying any rational thinking! Not to mention, the probable cost of environment waste and human life danger that might be exposed to because of possible radiation emission. The gains of this project is also technologically we may be accepted as a country which know-how to enrich uranium, investment on energy for future generation! And probable stability of the regime and perhaps the country! However, the human rights issues will be also be jeopardized!
So, I truly wonder if in many occasion I made a thorough cost/benefit analysis and made a proper decision!