The ‘deep state’?
Taking citizenship seriously includes holding leaders accountable.
In my youth I cut my political teeth on the Watergate scandal, and this, along with the Turkish invasion of my father’s native island of Cyprus, moved me to study politics. Like many Americans at the time, I was incensed that a sitting president, sworn to uphold the constitution, would abuse his office to gain unfair advantage in an election. I knew that such evident corruption was not new to Richard Nixon, but I was gratified that the institutions established to seek the public good and administer justice had withstood such a flagrant attempt to flout them.
Ongoing scandals
In the intervening years, I hoped that Americans had learned their lesson. Perhaps naively, I expected that they would take the duties of citizenship seriously enough never again to allow a would-be or incumbent leader to hijack the very institutions that protect their rights and enable them to live with a degree of peace and prosperity.
Sadly, my youthful expectations have been repeatedly disappointed, especially over the past decade.
In June Vice President J. D. Vance visited the Nixon library in California and made revealing comments that caused less of a stir than they should have: “If Watergate happened tomorrow, it would be a 12-hour news story. The idea that it would have taken down a presidency is crazy.” Vance continued that “the deep state took down Richard Nixon” and drew a parallel to the woes of the current administration.
The deep state myth
Those who speak of a deep state suspect that there is a vast network of persons working clandestinely within the institutions of government to derail the intentions of elected officials. Their goals are hidden from public scrutiny; their nefarious activities dressed in the garb of public service. If any official threatens to expose them, they will ensure that he or she is thwarted or removed from office.
We should not diminish legitimate concerns over accountability in our public service. Yet the myth of the “deep state” appears to originate in a certain bias against institutions and perhaps even the rule of law itself. Institutions and the abstract principles they embody do not inspire people in the same way as well-spoken and charismatic leaders. But in the American case, these institutions were set up by their 18th century founders precisely to constrain the whims of office holders. History is littered with the wreckage of corrupt leaders promising greatness while they line their own pockets and take revenge on their political opponents. The best political systems are supposed to place obstacles in the way of such people.
Christians in particular should take seriously the obligations of citizenship. Those of us who live in countries where the rule of law is treasured should give thanks for the institutions established by law and work to see that they continue to do public justice to all individuals and communities within their jurisdiction.
Thank you for this exhortation to take the joyful task of citizenry seriously. Although you write about the U.S.A., I find many of my friends do not speak to public officials, do not share their concerns in a principled way with governmental representatives. Sometimes I think apathy reigns (although ‘reigning’ takes too much effort for apathy to occur).
My own experience in B.C. and Canada is that there are many public officials willing and able to schedule time to listen and consider what their constituents have to say.