Don't Just Cut Government, Reinvent It

Louis Gerstner, former head of IBM, has a useful column in yesterday's Wall Street Journal on reinventing government.  We do need to cut and cut first, I maintain, but Mr. Gerstner makes three useful points, with which I agree:

• Don't cut across the board--some items may need to be held steady, others actually increased, as we readjust priorities.
• Focus on programs--nothing so permanent as a government program
• No exceptions--no sacred cows