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I would define it as something like this: The deep state is a set of individuals who use the powers granted to them by the government in order to further their
by staticautomatic 7y ago
I would define it as something like this:
The deep state is a set of individuals who use the powers granted to them by the government in order to further their own power interests and/or the power interests of extra-governmental entities regardless of whether the government and its constituents share in or benefit from those interests.
- saghm 7y agoCouldn't you argue that this could fit plenty of elected politicians? This doesn't seem to capture any part of what people seem to mean by the term "deep"
- debaserab2 7y agoYeah, I don't know anyone who uses the term "deep state" unironically that doesn't also have strong opinions about what that actually means.
- staticautomatic 7y agoSure. If you think that's an argument against the definition, then perhaps you could elaborate. Also, what do you think people seem to mean by the term "deep" that isn't captured?
- caseysoftware 7y agoThe distinction between an elected politician and a "deep state" figure in this regard would be their identity. You can probably name your Senators, maybe your House Member, and probably your local Mayor. You may have even voted for/against them. What about the Deputy Undersecretary of Whatever who is in charge of that topic near and dear to your heart? You didn't elect them. You can't even name them. In fact, you probably don't even know that job and person exist. I was in the Department of Justice and worked for a Deputy Assistant Attorney General in an agency you've never heard of just down the street from DOJ HQ. There were many lifers (worked there pushing 20 years) who I saw and heard say "Eh, I don't like the AG so I don't follow that policy." Fundamentally, it's no different than the CEO of a major company saying "we're going to do X" and various middle managers saying "Nah, that's a bad idea. I'm going to ignore it."