Wow. That was a thumping win for Donald Trump. Never in the past thirty years has a party in the United States received such a decisive mandate. But now while revising all the points portrayed by President-elect Trump, one point to be noted is the ‘Deep State’. Now and then the crowds in the Republican arena heard it out from their speaker.
So, what is a deep state?
Why is it a matter of concern, and why, does not just the American people but every citizen in a democracy oust the Deep State?
In politics and governance, the word “Deep State” often stirs curiosity and concern. It is a situation where, rather than the elected leaders, an influential individual or group operates independently and makes all the decisions. The elected leaders may or may not be consulted during the decision-making process. Such an influential individual or group tends to accumulate significant power, which goes against the values of democracy and can be disastrous to the people.
How disastrous is it?
Democracy's fundamental principle is that the people elect a government. The people have the will to vote for those they consider capable. Thus, elected members derive their powers directly from the people. Thus, it is strictly a two-point power structure. But when people who are not elected by the people make decisions, it means an illegitimate parallel line is drawn.
So why do some officials try to form such a parallel government? Is it for the good of the people?
The answer is NEVER.
The individuals or the group form such a coalition only to fulfil their personal needs, to protect specific interests or to maintain control over critical areas of governance to quench their thirst for power.
Not to miss out on the economic favour.
Any good official being part of the deep state will become corrupt and the corrupt official will be more corrupt. They will work to ensure that policies favour wealthy corporations or elite groups. Any such activities will be carried out in secrecy and would be reasoned as national security or state well-being. And there comes the next being threat;
Lack of Transparency.
Hence, these actions need secrecy, the group will knit a big screen to hide behind the stage. The lack of transparency will help the group to overpower the legitimate government and ensure their dominance is unchecked. Even the elected people will be kept blind to most government actions or policies. Necessary intelligence will be hindered from reaching the top man, and untruthful information will be sent to persuade the top man to make favourable or weak decisions that will benefit the group.
Political instability, high policing, and stern control over the media are integral parts of a deep state. Through these high-handedness officials can manipulate the system for personal gain and mislead people. All these have a negative consequence for the government and citizens. The deep state will undermine democratic processes by bypassing elected leaders, weakening public trust in governance.
The concept of the deep state highlights the critical need for transparency, accountability, and democratic oversight in governance. For a government to truly serve its people, power must remain in the hands of elected leaders and operate within the framework of laws and public accountability. Citizens must stay vigilant, demanding open governance and resisting the erosion of democratic norms. A healthy democracy depends on the people's ability to ensure that no institution or group operates unchecked in the shadows.
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