We Vote, Then We Wait--Much Too Long : Transition: The 2 1/2 months it takes to change U.S. administrations makes for trouble at home and abroad.

Dec. 10 should have been Inauguration Day.

If it had been, President Clinton would have his Cabinet in place, his budget team would be at work on next year’s budget and the new Congress would be sworn in and ready to work on legislation proposed by our new President. The federal government would then be poised to carry out the election mandate delivered by voters in early November.

Instead, it has been more than a month since Election Day and action in Washington has come to a halt while the transition between the Bush and Clinton administrations grinds on with press conferences, introductory White House visits, Cabinet appointment speculation, policy summits and, with the exception of the situation in Somalia, a time-out called in American dealings in world affairs.

The simple fact is that the length of our current transition period is by no means required for the operation of our system of government, yet it presents a constant potential for trouble in both domestic and world affairs.

The current inauguration date, Jan. 20, was moved from March 4 in 1933 by the 20th Amendment to the Constitution. Times continue to change, and there is no reason not to have the inauguration on Dec. 10. Beyond being an outdated functional policy, keeping our government in limbo for 2 1/2 months presents substantial potential for harm:

* It delays immediate work on new programs mandated by the election and it presents an opportunity for hostile rule-making by agency officials who will soon be stepping down from their posts.

* It results in the absurd procedure of having the outgoing administration prepare the budget for the next fiscal year only to have it amended within two weeks by the incoming administration.

* It creates uncertainty internationally because foreign governments are unsure about who speaks for the country and can take advantage of the muddled chain of command in Washington.

In this election in particular, a clear mandate for change and for immediate action on our nation’s ills was given by the voters on Election Day. They asked for this change after listening to, and often enduring, an intense, year-long discussion of the issues and the candidates’ prospective solutions.

Having made their choice, voters are entitled to have their will carried out speedily by the officials they have chosen. But our current 10-week transition period thwarts any speedy action on the Election Day mandate.

The question, is why not change the schedule of events? There has been significant clamor over the past few years to make our government more responsive to the people. Here is one common-sense proposal that will cost nothing and will contribute substantially to governmental responsiveness and efficiency.