Unmanaged

Here’s convincing evidence of the problem I mentioned in my column last week: After 30 years of Reaganist disdain for governance–with the 8-year Clinton streamlining effort noted–our regulatory agencies are in lousy shape and need careful attention. Today’s NY Times story about the agency that “manages” offshore oil drilling permits is outrageous…and adds strongly to the case for summoning Dick Cheney to testify about his anti-regulatory inventions in the process and the effects they may have had on this ecological disaster. It also adds to the case I made last week: after the crucial Fiancial Reform bill is passed, better management of the government’s many regulatory agencies should take priority over new legislation for the moment.