Recess appointments

President Bush continues his abuse of his power to make recess appointments. Suppose you need an ambassador to Belgium (I'm not sure why you would, but bear with me). The Senate is happy to confirm your buddy, your campaign contributor, your well-heeled Republican lobbyist. But Bush's nomination of Sam Fox, who donated $50,000 to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in the 2004 presidential election campaign, seems to have been conceived as a deliberate slap in the face of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on which John Kerry serves. Then to appoint him through a recess appointment when the Committee balks ... well, that's real pathological behavior. I mean, it's not like any great principle is involved - it's the ambassador to Belgium for God's sake, pick someone who the Senate will confirm and save your energy for the fights that matter!

On the other hand, the Democrats' objections to Susan Dudley's nomination for administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget seems unwarranted. She's accused of writing that

government regulation is not warranted “in the absence of a significant market failure,” alarming consumer and environmental groups. Mr. Bush nominated her in August and again in January, with Democrats vowing to block confirmation. “Clearly, these are politically provocative acts,” said Sarah Feinberg, a spokeswoman for the Democratic caucus in the House, referring to the three appointments.

I think 90% of economists from all points on the political spectrum will agree that government intervention is unwarranted in the absence of significant market failure. In the absence of market failure (externalities, public goods, monopoly power, information asymmetries), markets are perfectly competitive and therefore produce an efficient outcome. Liberal and conservative economists agree on the basic proposition - where they disagree is on the matter of what constitutes a significant market failure. I think there's a market failure in labor markets, hence I support a minimum wage. A conservative is more willing to think the labor market approximates perfect competition, therefore will oppose a minimum wage.