LIFE WITHOUT A COMMERCE SECRETARY

Suppose there is some deep causal agent beyond ideological differences or questionable financial dealings that is keeping the Obama Administration from filling the Commerce Secretary slot. Suppose that at some fundamental structural level, the Department of Commerce can no longer abide a secretary? Suppose Commerce in the 21st century is meant to be self-governing?

Why fight it? Instead of lobbying for a progressive secretary who could boost the interests of, say, American manufacturing, maybe liberals should advocate a more fundamental solution. So here goes:

All power to the Commerce Department’s Workers’ Soviet!

And since it eliminates the need to fill the department’s most highly-paid position, it should be a slam-dunk with the Blue Dogs.

--Harold Meyerson