Dawn Of The Deep State: How James Garfield’s Assassination Spawned This Monster

Source: Issues & Insights.

When I think of the deep state I tend to think of the intelligence community, but the term can just as plausibly refer to the civil service or more broadly to the bureaucratic infrastructures of government.

The brief essay at the source makes the point that, “The Pendleton Act [which created the modern civil service system] was conceived by reformers who disliked politics because they distrusted democracy.” I’m sure there was more to it than that, but the claim raises interesting questions. For example, if one’s aim is to preserve democracy, isn’t it necessary for government to remain small?

A corollary question: Wasn’t the spoils system that existed prior to the civil service more democratic in its way than the system which replaced it?

China Warns Japan

Source: Vox Popoli.

Vox Day highlights a warning delivered in the U.S. by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida a couple of days ago: “East Asia is the Ukraine of tomorrow.”

U.S. foreign policy has become belligerent and destructive. At the same time we have accrued a shameful track record of ineffective military operations. Other countries around the world — including our allies — have begun to notice, and to react.

Day thinks that Japan will break with the U.S. if necessary to avoid war with China. I think he’s correct.

More Classified Documents Found At Biden’s Delaware Home

Source: ZeroHedge.

A third stash. Is there a pattern here?

David Petraeus, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Joe Biden — it is beginning to look like private possession of classified documents is a standard practice in Washington, DC. The big secret is that government secrets are no secret at all, except to the American people who pay for them.

I’m not keen on impeaching the current miscreant, but these revelations do inspire questions. For example, why not simply publish all (or most) classified material?