When-and if-people get around to talking about the ways our government actually works well, that good part comes from how well the balance of power works. Federal administrative, congressional and judicial branches make up a fairly sturdy, time-tested three-legged stool meant to keep the world from falling over too quickly due to the excesses of any one part of government. Tyrants ana immediate solutions need apply elsewhere. At a time of relative regulatory inactivity, as we may be seeing in the world of safety and health, another kind of balance of power becomes evident. It does not look like OSHA, MSHA and the other agencies will be doing much rulemak-ing under this Republican administration. Perhaps one could chalk that up to the kind of small government, pro-business politics that typify Republican views. It could also be that we have reached a time when those in charge are beginning to understand that the difficulties and costs of the federal regulatory process-not necessarily the regulations themselves-are just too high for the payback.
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