"We wouldn't want to adopt a system where the person who knows how can be compelled against their will to fix the leak. "
Id learn. If no one fixes a leak, my own life is in danger, the more people know how, the more chances someone will be able to fix and call for help sooner rather than later. Its like a termite nest gets damaged, the termite aware starts fixing it asap, it doesnt walk over to the queen and ask if anyones interested (my guess is that colonies in which the closest termite didnt fix damage on the double got wiped out more often). Note that in a large room with a crowd, if all individuals rush out in case of fire, many might get trampled and sometimes none could escape(if doors open on the inside) , but if the people are coordinated like a military unit or just basic trainng, everyone gets out no problem. Once I know how to fix the leak, Im not going to hoard it like a privilege/trade secret/secret recipe/7herbs and spices/Chevron's electric car battery patent, on the contrary, I'll genuinely help others since those wont be rivals for getting a treat but the more people know the easier it will be for me and them.
"That's called "shortsightedness"."
You know first aid, you play volleyball with friends and someone jumps and lands on his ankle, are you going to "volunteer" to help, or will you say, "hey wait a minute buddy, caugh up some cash", or sit around and watch other friends half-baked attempts to help, or the submarine sinks, are you going to watch water pour in from a valve saying "Hey its the turn of Jimmy thats in the infirmary with the flu, to fix it, Ive got water to my knees but someone go fetch him" or would you rather say "holy crap hand me that wrench". On the other hand, though you might say to the guy next to you "hand me that wrench" (functional request in functional situation) you would not have a generic "hierarchic authority" to say "hey, the leak is fixed, fetch me a coffee Johnson, Im the leader around here".