In defence of the state

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Civilized societies depend on the institutions. The more difficult the society is, the more important those institutions are. Institutions provide stability, predictability and security. Companies, schools, universities and courts are all institutions. But the most important institutions are the state. That’s why Donald Trump’s attack on what his supporters misleads the “deep state” is so dangerous. Some of them believe that the state must be a servant to the whims of the great leader. Others believe that it should be in the service of the rich. Both sides agree that the ability to meet the needs of a broader society is of little importance. These views are dangerous. They are enriched by autocracy, plutocracy and dysfunction.

Important row of articles: Appreciating the deep conditionStanford Francis Fukuuyama examines why it is so devastating to prove the state’s output. Fukuyama has given a major part of the last two decades that “high power, professional and impartial state are very important for the success of any society,” including the observant of modern liberal democracies. This view is one that many Americans are disgusted. They see the state or just a “government” like the enemy. But anyone who worked on economic development, as I did, knows that nothing is actually actually working without competent, professional and neutral public service. The modern society and the economy becomes more complicated and difficult, the better it. As Fukuyama realizes fairly, the extraordinary success of East Asian economies is largely due to the fact that they have understood how to deal a long way from the west. Even more comfortable, he claims that “successful democracy. A number of a number of a strong modern state, but it should be a state that is constrained by the rule of law and democratic accountability. ”

US Federal Expenditure Line Figure as the US Government Shows Is Not Going to Back in the 19th Century

The establishment of such a state in the United States began in 1883, claims that the Pendleton act, which created a civil service commission and created merit criteria for working and promoting the federal service. This is what Trump’s administration, or, like historian Timothy’s mands, labels, “disgraceful regimen”, which gives responsibility for the unique role of Musk, to overthrow desires.

As Fukuyamama explains, the US bureaucratic system is far from perfect. But it is not the problem, because right critics argue the fact of a delegation of decisions. Someone imagines technical decisions on aircraft or pharmaceutical security, dangerous pollutants or nuclear waste management. It is obvious that these types of decisions should be delegated to qualified specialists. The idea that they must decide instead of people whose main qualifications are slavish to the big boss, absurd.

US Federal Government Federal Workers' Figure As All Non-Farm Employment Indicating Federal Employment Share in Generally Low Levels

The reality is that these “reforms” have nothing to do with making the government more efficient. The goal is to make all the powerful “brush” earlier. The game appeared from JD Vance, who said that if Tramer wins the presidency in 2024, he must “replace them in every civil servant state. A number of a number And when the courts stop you, stand in front of the land like Jackson and say: “Chief justice has made its decision. Now let him force it. “” So much in the case, when the United States must be “the government of law, not men.” This is a coup.

These efforts are also not going to transform public finance. In the financial year of 2025, 78% of federal expenses are still on social security, health, protection, security, veterans’ benefits and net interest. Says musk Doge can save $ 2Tn a year. Spending $ 6.8 last year, this seems absurd.

Chart of employee compensation line Chart * Spending compensation for (%) of the US Federal Government is a small and decline in federal expenses

During the money, one does not make a complex system more “efficient” by accidentally robbing it. But it can be terrified of its employees. So real goals as Apne Applebaum NotesThey are intimidating and replacing real civil servants with acolytes. Its advantages are clear. This will allow the government’s powers to be responsible for pursuing “enemies” to intimidate journalists if it is necessary to enter the state and urban governments. And what about the rule of law? Vans has already said what he thinks about that idea. In that case, the purpose of us to turn us into plebiscity dictatorship, the owners of which are King. Will this revolution be compatible with fair elections in the future? Should doubt it.

After all, most of it will be irreversible. After replacing loyalty and lies have replaced the truth, it will be a long way. So, when you released competent and honest civil servants, how easy it will be to find such people in the future. US intelligence services, data and scientific analysis were global lighthouse. How long will it survive? One Tests: There must be for employment if one hugs the lie who won in 2020.

If the type of state that Fukuyama praises is replaced by what is now planned, the toxic mixture of incompetence, predators and corruption is inevitable. Among the harmful features will be what Daniel Kaufman is the development of non-commercial results, calls “State capture“The operation of the government by those who are able not only to turn, but to create for their own interests. The United States is already relatively captured for a high income country. But now the rules protecting the independence of civil servants must be completed.

What is happening is destruction, not reform. Whatever they said, ordinary Americans will not help chaos. But we know who is.

martin.wolf@ft.com

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