In the Broadway musical “Gypsy,” built around the life of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee, one of the show-stopping tunes is “You gotta get a gimmick.” Congress may be a long way from New York (and way off Broadway), but it is not shy about borrowing show biz techniques. Gimmicks abound in this political theater in the round dome.
Rose’s gimmick was “less is more” — clothes that is. Congress’s is “more is more.” The more gimmicks the better. The more baubles and bangles to dangle and dazzle the public, the better. The more squiggly charts pointing nowhere, the better. The more confusing budgetary terminology tossed around, the better.
As discussed in my previous column, ignoring the “Impoundment Control Act” is the latest anti-gimmick gimmick being flashed by Elon Musk, who was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to lead DOGE, the non-governmental Department of Government Efficiency.
I am not suggesting that Congress purposely devise gimmicks to pull the wool over the public’s eyes. Having been directly involved at the staff level over three decades in many of the so-called budget reform efforts, I can attest that Congress is deadly serious about finding new ways to reduce government spending and even balance the budget. But we are all familiar with where we end up by paving the road with good intentions. It is not to a zero-deficit nirvana.
........