1.This is your opportunity to discuss the information further with your classmates or to discuss whether you agree or disagree and state why or why not. Keep your comments professional and follow the Netiquette guidelines..
You are encouraged to incorporate your personal and professional experiences in discussion board responses.
1. American Democracy Depends on the ‘Deep State’ – WSJ.pdfDownload American Democracy Depends on the ‘Deep State’ – WSJ.pdf
After reading and analyzing the article, go to your assigned Discussion Group. As your initial Individual Post, choose a short passage from the article that caught your interest, quote the passage, and post a commentary on that passage, incorporating references from your course reading materials or incorporating relevant outside materials–be sure to provide links or quotes with citations. Keeping in mind that in this Module we are discussing Administrative Law and Policy, your post commentary should relate to that major theme. In your Response post, respond to at least one other classmate’s post.
We would note that we added this article to the course before the insurrection events of January 6, 2021 at the Capitol. In light of those events, we think the article becomes even more interesting. We encourage you to approach the subject not from a partisan (Democrat v. Republican) point of view, but instead a Constitutional point of view–how do or should federal agencies support the citizens and the government of the United States?
Below are some relevant definitions to provide a common framework for discussion.
- Definitions of Interest:
- Administrative Agency: an official governmental body empowered with the authority to direct and supervise the implementation of particular legislative acts. Administrative agencies are created by the federal Constitution, the U.S. Congress, state legislatures, and local lawmaking bodies.
- Deep State: a body of people, typically influential members of government agencies or the military, believed to be involved in the secret manipulation or control of government policy.
- Liberty: the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.
“There is no clearer illustration of American exceptionalism than the country’s continuing discomfort with its own bureaucracy. Wealthy democracies in Europe and Asia take it for granted that an impersonal state is needed to protect citizens from threats and eschew corruption. In the U.S., by contrast, patronage remains rampant. When a typical European parliamentary government changes hands from one party to another, the ministers and a handful of staffers turn over. In the U.S., a change of administration (even within the same party) opens up some 5,000 “Schedule C” job positions to political appointees.” (Fukuyama, 2019)
Interesting article that is more intriguing considering the political events that have occurred since its publishing. I looked up the definition of “Schedule C” job and was shocked to find the United State Office of Government Ethics (OGE). Just imagine how many other regulatory agencies exist that we are unaware of?
Trying to refrain from making this political, but I often wonder if either side of the aisle has any ethics. Often forgetting that members of Congress are elected to not only represent the people of their districts but what is in their best interests as well. It often appears that the interests of large corporations are all that matter.
The OGE was established in 1978 and is part of the Office of Personnel Management. Congress felt that the public ought to know the financial interests of those leading us and works to prevent financial conflicts of interest and ensure decisions are free from personal financial bias (OGE, 2023).
According to OGE, a schedule C job is one that is exempt from competitive service because of the close and confidential working relationship with the agencies head or appointed official. These positions typically include secretaries, chauffeurs, and advisors (OGE, 2023). One aspect of the OGE, is to collect Public Financial Disclosures from federal executives.
Fukuyama, states that when a new administration comes in that more than 5,000 “Schedule C” positions. This is alarming considering the level and knowledge of expertise a person has after being in a position for several years. All of that knowledge walks out the door and it is like starting over. However, American politics are full of suspect and concern someone may be spying or leaking information to the other side. Not sure if our politics will ever be able to overcome that mindset.