If you google the word inertia, you get this:
Search Results
in·er·tia
iˈnərSHə/
noun
1. a tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged. “the bureaucratic inertia of government”
2. (In) physics, a property of matter by which it continues in its existing state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line, unless that state is changed by an external force.
Kind of like some – not all, but some – of the government employees we have all run into from time to time.
Full disclosure: Through thoughtful introspection I have discovered that if it weren’t for some kind of outside influence, I too would stay in an “existing state of rest” at all times. I am like a giant, heavy ball that when pushed will roll for a small distance before coming to a complete stop. Once at rest, it can only be moved again with great effort.
Mankind in general is in constant search of the mystical “idle time” and and is willing to work very hard to achieve it. In fact, one of the best motivators in life where a massive amount of energy is spent, ironically, is coming up with clever ways to get out of work. One of the best places to watch the professionals in work avoidance as they ply their trade is at sick call.
I cannot speak for the other services, but the Navy offers an officially sanctioned get-out-of-work program called the Light Duty Chit. With such a document in hand, a Sailor can proceed unimpeded to the heavenly Nexus of idle time and leisure while the rest of the crew toils in daily chores.
If we could just harness the raw energy that is expended in the Navy alone by people trying to get out of work, we could close the books on traditional sources of energy and keep right on moving without missing a beat.
We could do it. It would just take a little effort.
Effort. Hmmmm.
Never mind.
