[PopeDotNinja]

I once asked a friend, who works for a lesser known government agency, what his agency does. He said that like any good bureaucracy, its first job was to perpetuate itself. I found that statement both amusing and insightful.

[acjohnson55]

Incidentally, this is also what helps sustain societies through times of failing leadership.

[inflatableDodo]

Is also why large bureaucracies are seemingly able to run in the air for ages after they leave the cliff edge. Bureaucratic inertia, especially once it reaches the scale of a country, should not be underestimated lightly.

[Fomite]

Personally, I'm rather grateful for the inertia of the civil service in recent years.

[todipa]

You should definitively watch "Yes Minister" It is one of the funniest political (timeless wisdom) shows that people have forgotten.

[JetSpiegel]

The Thick of It is more recent (Blair era), but it can be thought of as a spiritual successor, and it has no laugh track.

[Arbalest]

Or more likely, never familiar with in the first place.

[RickJWagner]

I think your friend was truthful.

Among the tricks of the trade is for government management to always ensure each year's allotment of money is fully spent. That way, the budget will remain at least the same and probably more the next year. (Too bad for the taxpayers.)