- 19 Jun 2021 19:17
#15177406
I've just finished a book dealing with the deep state. That term is taken to mean what we would call the Administration, writ large. At present, there are roughly 1,870,000 federal civil employees. The overwhelming majority of them can be found within the agencies and departments of the administration. They fall under the responsibility of the President of the United States of America. The Congress of the United States of America retains oversight responsibilities.
The deep state, as defined above, is the repository of an immense wealth of data, experience and know-how. That is available to the president. Used well, the deep state can help to prevent a president from making serious errors. That's all well and good until we add in the immense power of the presidency. Conflicts between the deep state -- the administration -- and the president can arise. The most risible recent example is the set-to between NOAA and then-President Donald Trump over the track of hurricane Dorian in 2019. More generally, conflicts can arise whenever a president's instinctive feel of a situation is at odds with the administration's knowledge.
That's where the power of the presidency becomes very important. The Trump presidency was the most striking example of how a president who expands his authority to the very edges of its constitutional limits can change the government itself. Agencies -- creatures of the Congress -- can be eliminated. Congress itself can be stone-walled and divested of its oversight capabilities. The entire 'library' of expertise of the administration can be ignored.
As we have also seen, when a president manages to gain control of his party and that party holds one of the houses of the Congress of the United States, even impeachment -- the last barrier to a dictatorial presidency -- can be overcome.
It's an interesting thing to ponder, especially when thinking of the advantages of a 'strong' presidency.
Regards, stay safe 'n well.
The deep state, as defined above, is the repository of an immense wealth of data, experience and know-how. That is available to the president. Used well, the deep state can help to prevent a president from making serious errors. That's all well and good until we add in the immense power of the presidency. Conflicts between the deep state -- the administration -- and the president can arise. The most risible recent example is the set-to between NOAA and then-President Donald Trump over the track of hurricane Dorian in 2019. More generally, conflicts can arise whenever a president's instinctive feel of a situation is at odds with the administration's knowledge.
That's where the power of the presidency becomes very important. The Trump presidency was the most striking example of how a president who expands his authority to the very edges of its constitutional limits can change the government itself. Agencies -- creatures of the Congress -- can be eliminated. Congress itself can be stone-walled and divested of its oversight capabilities. The entire 'library' of expertise of the administration can be ignored.
As we have also seen, when a president manages to gain control of his party and that party holds one of the houses of the Congress of the United States, even impeachment -- the last barrier to a dictatorial presidency -- can be overcome.
It's an interesting thing to ponder, especially when thinking of the advantages of a 'strong' presidency.
Regards, stay safe 'n well.
"And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche." Geoffrey Chaucer
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