But first, what is one - the academic use of a "deep state" was popularised by Peter Scott and his 2010 Book - American War Machine - where he critiqued the military-industrial complex’s role and influence on U.S. foreign policy directives2.  The term has been co-opted since to broader conspiracies, and often is plastered to attack main-stream / legacy media sources that parrot / echo agendas of ‘the elite’.  It is at times likened to a secretive network within the military or security services that manipulates political affairs, or a to describe a perceived alliance of special interests and bureaucrats who are believed to exert undue influence over Washington’s decision making3 – but does the term hold any value?  

Employment Culture:

The transformation of employment paradigms represents a fundamental shift in how society views career progression and institutional service. The traditional model of lifelong employment, particularly in the public sector, has faced unprecedented challenges in recent decades. This shift has created a unique form of professional displacement, where career civil servants find themselves defending not just their positions, but the very concept of long-term institutional commitment.

The erosion of this employment model has been particularly acute in the government service, where the stability that once characterized public sector careers is increasingly viewed as anachronistic. Career government employees, who entered service under one set of social and professional expectations, now find themselves operating in an environment that often values mobility over continuity, disruption over stability.

This transformation has created a paradoxical situation where the very qualities that made career civil servants valuable - the deep institutional knowledge, established networks, and long-term perspective - are sometimes viewed as impediments to modernization. The pressure to adopt private sector employment patterns has placed these individuals in a precarious position in the face of automation4.

What's particularly striking is the accelerated decline post-2010, this period coincides with the rise of the gig economy, digital transformation, and changing workforce expectations. While public sector positions historically provided significantly longer tenure (starting at 7.8 years in 1983), even these traditionally stable roles have seen a decline to less than 6 by  Y-2023.

Self-preservationism:

In the intricate tapestry of governance, radical ideas can gain traction. Seasoned professionals of the like can provide a counterbalance, ensuring that changes are implemented thoughtfully and without compromising the core value or functions of the system. Their presence acts as a safeguard against hasty decision-making that could destabilize the system, offering a measured approach that considers both the potential benefits and risks of new ideas.

Moreover, these long-serving individuals often serve as the custodians of institutional knowledge, preserving the lessons learned from past experiences and ensuring that the system does not repeat previous mistakes. This continuity is crucial for maintaining the integrity and resilience of governance structures, allowing them to adapt and evolve while preserving their foundational principles.

In essence, the presence of long-serving groups within governance systems is not merely a relic of the past but a strategic asset that enhances the system's ability to navigate the complexities of modern governance. By balancing innovation with stability, these individuals contribute to the self-preservation of the system, ensuring its longevity and effectiveness in the face of ever-heightening automation and attempted interference7 . 

The Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center notes that once key departments are compromised, the very mechanisms designed to detect such compromise become unreliable. This is where the term "institutional blindness" comes from, a malignant organisational cancer that upends the very purpose of which to serve8.

Montesquieu’s representation but with caveats:

The principles of responsible and representative government have been the bedrock of Western democracy since their inception. Responsible government ensures that the executive branch is accountable to the legislature and, by extension, the electorate, reflecting the will of the people. Representative government, meanwhile, involves electing officials to represent citizens' interests, ensuring a variety of voices are assured in the decision-making process, this is a mechanism that some assert as ‘indirect’. 

These concepts, rooted in the Enlightenment, were championed by philosophers like John Locke and Montesquieu, who advocated for systems where power is derived from the consent of the governed to the United States, United Kingdom, and beyond9.

Montesquieu's advocacy for the separation of powers to prevent tyranny and promote liberty however clashes with the idea of modern bureaucracy. The civil service of the current-era operates with partial autonomy that can seem at odds with the principles of representative government. Bureaucracies, with their hierarchical structures and procedural rules, can resist reforms that threaten their established ways of operating, hindering the implementation of policy and emerging processes.

The establishment of the Department of Agriculture in 1862 marked a pivotal shift in American governance, representing the first major departure from core state functions such as defense, treasury, and foreign relations. This development signaled the beginning of federal involvement in areas traditionally governed by personal responsibility and private enterprise. 

The Department of Agriculture's creation coincided with other transformative legislation, including the Homestead Act and the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act, which collectively expanded federal influence over land distribution, education, and agricultural development11.  

This evolution raised critical questions about American identity. If the ‘land of the free’ was implementing systems of state agricultural support similar to European models, what distinguished American freedom from the manifestations of European kingship of which it’s founding departed? 

Despite concerns about accountability, the role of bureaucrats—often working behind the scenes and unknown to the public—may be crucial for maintaining state security and implementing government policies. These civil servants possess specialized knowledge and expertise essential for effective governance, particularly in areas like national defense, intelligence, and public safety. Their work ensures continuity and stability, providing the institutional memory and technical expertise required to address complex challenges and respond to emerging threats.

While the principles of representative government are foundational to democracy, they can also present challenges to sustaining governance systems. As societies evolve ever-convoluted, the demands on these organs shift, leading to exacerbation of broad representation and efficient dialogue. The dynamic nature of representative government can create instability, as frequent changes in leadership and policy direction may deflect long-term planning – illiberal to some. This can push the very idea of the institution as ‘terminally unsustainable’12.

The Candidate:

Donald Trump's ascension to the presidency marked a pivotal moment in American political history, characterised by his against against what he termed "the establishment." His promise to ‘drain the swamp’ resonated with millions of Americans who felt betrayed by traditional political institutions: these weren't just mundane citizenry – they were the descendants of the Greatest Generation, whose fathers and grandfathers had stormed the beaches of Normandy and fought in the Pacific theatre during the Second World War. 14 These veterans had returned home with the promise of an American Dream, one that seemed elusive for their children, and grandchildren as time went on15.

The irony wasn't lost on political observers that Trump's victory came through one of the most established mechanisms of American democracy – the Electoral College. Despite losing the popular vote by nearly three million votes, Trump secured over 300 electoral votes, demonstrating how an anti-establishment message could triumph through establishment ends. This paradox highlighted the layered complexion of democratic institutions and their ability to field unforeseen possibilities.

Yet, the very nature of Trump's presidency raised questions about the authenticity of his anti-establishment credentials. While he positioned himself as an outsider, his administration included numerous Wall Street executives and career politicians. Goldman Sachs alumni occupied key positions, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chief Strategist Steve Bannon16. This seeming contradiction between rhetoric and reality suggested either a masterful political ploy or the inherent impossibility of governing without engaging with established institutional frameworks.

The brevity of Trump's term – four years marked by unprecedented political polarization – left an ambiguous legacy regarding his war against the establishment. While he succeeded in his rant of disrupting political norms and communications, many of the institutional clots he railed against remained intact.

The Supreme Court – and it’s place in tenure:

When Trump was ushered into office in 2017, his predecessor bequeathed him with an unparalleled number of judicial vacancies – 107 of them, including one Supreme Court seat that. During his four-year term, Trump appointed 234 federal judges, including three Supreme Court justices, reshaping the federal judiciary for some time to come (Brookings Institution, 2021)17.

However, these judicial appointments, while significant, represent only a fraction of the federal government's institutional framework. Career public servants, numbered in the millions, undergo rigorous vetting processes which include extensive background checks, security clearances, and professional evaluations. According to the Office of Personnel Management (2023), the average federal employee has 13.5 years of service, demonstrating a level of institutional knowledge and continuity that transcends political appointments. This extensive vetting process and long-term service commitment creates a depth of expertise that judicial appointments, despite their lifetime tenure, do match in terms of day-to-day governance18.

The Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned the jurisprudence of Roe v. Wade struck the heart of stare decisis and "settled law." This decision, made possible by Trump's appointments to the Court, demonstrated how institutional changes could fundamentally alter long-standing legal precedents. According to the Harvard Law Review (2024), this marked only the second time in U.S. history that the Supreme Court had removed a previously recognized constitutional right, raising profound questions about the stability of other spaces presumed “resolved’.

Debt Crisis:

 Since the Soviet Union's fall on the 25th of Dec 1991, America's debit book has risen ever since. Expanding from a amicable $3.6 trillion to nearly $27 trillion USD by year 2020. This exponential growth coincided with the superpower’s solidification as the world ‘hegemon’, a position that perhaps incentivised less fiscal restraint on the grounds of holding the mountain-top19.

The rapid due accumulation might be viewed through separate critical lenses:

Power Projection: With no counterbalancing power, America increased military spending and global interventions, contributing significantly to the debt. This "might and power" approach operated under the assumption that America's economic dominance made such debt levels sustainable.

Potential Espionage Angle: The more concerning interpretation suggests that this debt explosion might have been partially influenced by foreign intelligence operations. The lack of immediate repercussions for this unprecedented debt growth could indicate a sophisticated form of economic warfare, where America's newfound sole-superpower status was used against it to encourage fiscal irresponsibility.

The lack of immediate consequence might be precisely what made this plausible strategy so effective - creating subtle points of obvious friction that would have triggered corrective action, allowing the balance to exceed viable levels of periods recent.

I guess the problem with a deep state is you don’t know if it exists, unless you’re in it – is the bald eagle hiding something?

#deepstate #politics #indepth #research #unitedstates #usa #trump #espionage #uspolitics #geopolitics #corruption #nationaldebt #bigpharma #bigmoney #bigag #bigtech #bigmedia

References

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Copeland, C. (2023, January 19th). Trends in Employee Tenure. 1983-2022. Retrieved from Employee Benefit Research Institute : https://www.ebri.org/content/trends-in-employee-tenure-1983-2022

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PewResearch. (2017, July 31st). Gen Zers, Millenials and Gen Xers outvoted Boomers and older generations in 2016 election. Retrieved from Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/topic/generations-age/generations/greatest-generation/

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