About 45 years ago, a four-term Democrat Congressman from a safe district sat in my shabby office and said he wanted me to know he was not going to run again (he did) because Congress didn't matter any more. We were not close friends. Of course I knew who he was but had never talked with him in person. I was surprised at his candor and attributed most of it to grief over the recent death of his wife.
That evening, he talked at length about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 containing specific language to prevent discrimination based on race. In practice, it actively and openly discriminated against white people in favor of black people (affirmative action), something expressly prohibited by the actual legislation. His complaint was that it didn't matter what elected officials did, the untouchable Civil Service bureaucrats would do whatever they damned well pleased. Think about that for a minute.
Maybe we pay lip service paid to Constitutionally Limited Federal Government but are actually governed by a nameless, faceless, un-elected bureaucracy. If true, it changes to shape of political debate. It also makes clear the bureaucracy will act in the best interest of itself, not necessarily that of the American people.
Strangely, there doesn't even seem to be a word in the English language for "Rule by Bureaucracy", although every other form of government seems to have a well-defined name. Without a name, it does not enter into public discussion. The slogan "Drain The Swamp" seems to refer to limiting the power of US federal bureaucracy, but is not specific enough for political debate. The term "Deep State" fits, but it has been taken by international conspiracy theorists to mean something completely different. I'll call it the "Swamp" until some wit comes up with better.
Democrats and Republicans alike are guilty of abandoning the responsibilities of governing for the pleasures and privilege granted by the Swamp. There hasn't been a legally enacted federal budget since Bush was president. Continuing resolutions and the like just give the Swamp discretionary power to fund and de-fund whatever they choose. The Swamp has become bolder by openly using their power to limit political discussion. The Internal Revenue Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Intelligence services have all directly interfered with the domestic political process. Homeland Security openly demeans citizen liberty and dignity.
Rule by a runaway bureaucracy is exactly what led to "75 Years of Blood Terror and Tears" in Russia. We don't need it here.
