My Failed Jobs Program

One of those 2 million jobs created in the U.S. last year -- the ones President Clinton is so proud of -- was created by me. Around September, I decided to hire an assistant. I dreamed of mundane clerical and research tasks being lifted from my shoulders, so that I could devote myself more fully to pure cogitation on the pressing issues facing humankind. Less nobly, I dreamed of joining the ranks of those Washingtonians who have "aides." Perhaps, I fantasized, I would even have a "key aide" or a "senior aide."

And, needless to say, there would be no "Zoe...