The debate in this country over the size of government has taken a fortunate turn in the past week as consciousness about wasteful spending seems to have broken through to the public. That’s a good thing. What’s not so good is that Republicans and conservatives aren’t entirely coherent when it comes to their suggestions about how to offset post-hurricane spending. They are simultaneously attacking pork and suggesting that the first year of the prescription-drug benefit be postponed. Bringing up the benefit is a terrible mistake, because it dilutes and confuses the issue. Whatever massive problems we all may have with it, it represents a major policy matter that won’t be resolved through postponement. The war on pork, on the other hand, is devoutly to be desired. Pork is almost always indefensible and subjecting these Congressional monstrosities to the light of day may indeed result in a fearful Congress retracing some of its steps rather than experience the discomfort of major public exposure. Or is this wishful thinking? Maybe–but maybe we’re on the brink of a change in political atmosphere.