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Re:Notes on El Salvador by macintux on Saturday March 30, 2024 @11:10PM (#39881025)
Can’t speak to the original comment, but I think part of a “deep state” is institutional inertia/tradition.

A state without that deep-rooted sense of continuity is much more fragile. Having a civil service without political allegiance seems to be critical to preservation of a democratic system.

Re:Notes on El Salvador by SV_BubbleTime on Sunday March 31, 2024 @12:05AM (#39881330)
Why are you under the impression that the bureaucracy class does not have a political leaning/allegiance? We know it does, 95% of DC votes for the people that want larger government.
Re:Notes on El Salvador by macintux on Sunday March 31, 2024 @12:11AM (#39881362)
Allegiance is not the same thing as a tendency. And the fact that one party uses smaller government as part of its sales pitch may not last forever.

In the U.S. I would say that Trump’s takeover of the GOP has generally de-emphasized smaller government as a plank of the party. He certainly doesn’t care about it.

Whether the bureaucrats lean towards one party or the other doesn’t change the fact that they aren’t compelled out of fear for their jobs to break the law at the president’s command.

Re:Notes on El Salvador by SV_BubbleTime on Sunday March 31, 2024 @12:27AM (#39881448)
> Whether the bureaucrats lean towards one party or the other doesn’t change the fact that they aren’t compelled out of fear for their jobs to break the law at the president’s command.

I’m thinking about all of the politically motivated “leaks”, the weaponization of institutions like the FBI, DOJ, IRS and I’m just wondering how you are seriously saying above.

The “deep state” or “the state” or “the elites” or “ the bureaucracy class” or whatever you want to call it and whatever you want to claim it exists for… is a different topic than “they don’t break the law”. I’m thinking I must be really misunderstanding your text, because that’s just ridiculous.

Re:Notes on El Salvador by macintux on Sunday March 31, 2024 @12:41AM (#39881510)
The thesis that started this thread: the deep state protects democracy.

Obviously if you interpret “deep state” as “secret cabals of evildoers” then yes, that’s a nonsensical argument.

My personal interpretation of the “deep state” argument that Trump has been bandying around is that he means “people who resist my desire to do whatever I want as President”.

Re:Notes on El Salvador by SV_BubbleTime on Sunday March 31, 2024 @10:23AM (#39884547)
And when it politically aligns with you, you’re happy to say “preserves democracy” while ignoring all the evil and law breaking I guess?
Re:Notes on El Salvador by searealist on Sunday March 31, 2024 @01:01AM (#39881583)
The "deep state" organizations skew 90%+ Democrat.