For those who were not aware, the documentary series "Yes Minister" (surely it wasn't a comedy
) covered this sort of madness many years ago (I've made a couple of changes to put it in context)
- Jim Hacker: "The Space Policy Unit, Humphrey, is an advanced case of galloping bureaucracy."
Sir Humphrey: "Ooooh, certainly not galloping. A gentle canter at the most."
- Sir Humphrey: "Minister, you said you wanted the administration figures reduced, didn't you?"
Jim Hacker: "Yes."
Sir Humphrey: "So we reduced the figures."
Jim Hacker: "But only the figures, not the number of administrators."
Sir Humphrey: "Well of course not."
Jim Hacker: "Well that is not what I meant."
Sir Humphrey: "Well really Minister, one is not a mind-reader, is one? You said reduce the figures, so we reduced the figures."