The Deep State is a term used to describe elite political forces that manipulate government actions and decisions in favor of their own agenda. These are typically elite financial, corporate, and/or government interests that work behind the scenes.
Some theories even suggest these groups work together to control the flow of information, including information about their own agendas, making it difficult for common citizens to understand what is really going on.
The Deep State is believed to have its roots in early 20th century fascism. At that time, corporations began to take form and expand as industries. This led to the need for regulated markets, which was carried out by government regulators.
But some theorists suggest that some of these regulators began working closely with corporations instead of regulating them, thus starting the relationship between “the Deep State” and big business.
This article will discuss the various components of the Deep State and whether or not it exists in America today.
How did we get here?
In the past few decades, America has seen a sharp division in politics. Republicans and Democrats each have very distinct ideologies and agendas, making compromise difficult.
This divide has been fueled by many things, from money to media messaging. However, one of the biggest influences is wealthy donors.
Campaign funding and lobbying is a big money industry in America. Donors pay large amounts of money to politicians and their campaigns in order to get them elected and promote their agenda once they are in office. This pays off for donors as politicians have to return the favor or risk losing their reelection campaign.
The problem with this is that it creates a system where politicians are more focused on serving donors than their constituents. This is why you see so many proposals that address issues that don’t impact most people, but benefit big corporations.
Corporations also donate large amounts of money to political campaigns, which fuels this cycle of corruption.
What are their goals?
While there is no direct evidence that shadow government agents are working to abolish the United States as it is known today, their actions do seem to push for changes that would radically change the structure of government as we know it.
Many theories point to the deep state as being responsible for numerous scandals in the past few years, including Trump-Russia and Clinton-era investigations. Some even go so far as to claim they were responsible for 9/11 in order to push through legislation and give themselves more power.
Whether or not these theories are true, it is clear that some in the deep state have very strong political biases and want to see legislation or policies put into place that benefit them personally. This could potentially be a threat to democracy itself, since the will of the people may not be what ends up happening.
Who are they?
Many refer to the deep state as a group of people who work in the government, usually in the more secretive parts of the government like intelligence agencies or behind-the-scenes roles.
Some believe this group works together to manipulate government actions and policies. They believe these people are committed to a political ideology and will manipulate facts and evidence to achieve their goals.
Some believe they are also involved in covering up certain events, like conspiracies. For example, some believe that the deep state is made up of people who work in government and are committed to maintaining the status quo. They believe that they actively work to cover up conspiracy theories, like 9/11 being an inside job.
The deep state is referred to as a shadow government because they operate in secrecy and outside of what many consider to be the legitimate democratic processes.
What does this mean for democracy?
In the past few years, many people have expressed concern about the health of American democracy.
There are massive income inequality, corruption is rampant, and the influence of corporations and special interest groups is monumental. All of these things undermine democracy by distorting the will of the people through money and influence.
The will of the people can’t be realized when wealth alone provides access to education, healthcare, housing, food, etc., which is what happens when taxes are too low or they are subsidized by corporate profits.
Corruption has become so common that it has almost become normalized. Not only does this undermine democracy, but it also erodes faith in it.
What can we do about it?
Unfortunately, the deep state is unlikely to accept any major changes to the status quo. There are too many people who have invested too much in the existing system to let it go without a fight.
Any reforms or changes will likely be very slow in coming and may only be cosmetic. As this is the case, your best bet is to prepare for the worst-case scenario: a continued deep state with zero interest in serving the American people.
The only way to truly defeat this entrenched element of the government is to educate others and spread awareness. The more people that understand what’s going on, the fewer people they can manipulate. You can also support alternative media sources that are exposing what’s really going on and who are looking out for your best interests.
Read the Constitution again
The first recommendation is to read the US Constitution again, or for the first time. Reading the Constitution is an easy and accessible way to understand the system of government we have here in America.
It’s also a way to understand that our government was designed to be a limited government. Limited in its power, limited in who can exercise it, and limited in time.
The founders knew that those limits would need to be reexamined and revised as time went on, so they built that into the Constitution itself. Amendments are how we reexamine and revise those limits.
However, those Amendments themselves are limited in length and scope, which is another feature of the system of government the founders designed. They wanted these things to be short and simple so that average people could understand them and enforce them.
Join and support organizations that support democracy
Now, more than ever, it’s important to support organizations that support democracy and the integrity of our political system.
There are many organizations that work to uphold the U.S. Constitution and the democratic principles it embodies. You can support these organizations in a number of ways, from donating money to attending their events and rallies.
Some notable organizations include Common Cause, The Democracy Initiative, The Brennan Center for Justice, and Women’s March Youth Alliance. Regardless of your political affiliation, these groups deserve your support as a citizen who believes in democracy.
We live in a time when corruption is rampant and transparency is vital. Make sure you are educated on the issues and voting procedures so that you can vote out the corrupt politicians.
Vote!
While the deep state is real, so is the power of the people. Keeping track of government activity is important, but even more important is participating in it.
Do not let this information discourage you from voting or believing in the power of voting. The more people that go out and vote, the more representative our government will be.
The fact that there is so much hype around elections right now is a good sign- more people are likely to go out and vote because of all the publicity.
Voting is a way to keep track of what’s going on and make changes if necessary. Do not let the shadow government trick you into thinking that there is no use in voting, it is one of the most powerful things we can do as citizens.
