Interesting to note that you started this reply with "I think." Would it have carried more weight if you started with "perhaps" instead, or stripped it altogether? Maybe. Either way it's fun to think about.

Another thought -- perhaps an "I" form of statement would invite more discussion in a forum than something that appears to be a factual statement and not a opinion.

Also it would seem (to me) to be more polite (mainly in that it would allow more polite ways to disagree).

True. :-)

Or the person in power is speaking from the point of view of the power he represents rather than for himself personally.