My proposal to rename the main departments of the feddle gummint drew a
modest response leaning rather heavily towards cynicism. After perusing
them all, I came to agree with my colleague Jay Nordlinger: a little
cynicism goes a long way. I have therefore favored mere reductionism over
cynicism in selecting the following, stitched together from contributions by
several readers.
—-Agriculture
Department of Subsidies
—-Interior
Department of Casinos
—-Commerce
Department of Junkets
—-Justice
Department of Procrastination
—-Defense
Department of War
—-Labor
Department of Regulation
—-Education
Department of Propaganda
—-State
Department of Appeasement
—-Energy
Department of Inertia
—-Transportation
Department of Pork
—-Health & Human Services
Department of Hospitals
—-Treasury
Department of Taxes
—-Homeland Security
Department of Sensitivity
—-Housing & Urban Development
Department of Slums
—-Veterans’ Affairs
[Hardly anyone had an unkind word to say, which I guess is understandable in
time of war… Though there were couple of swipes at “coddling Grandpa…”]