DeVos urges Education Dept. staff to ‘resist’ when Biden takes office<\/a> <\/p>\nI will start with the trite and obvious observation that this is probably a media hit job, and that DeVos probably didn’t say what they are accusing her of saying. Your first instinct with any political story from the U.S. should be “that’s probably a lie.” <\/p>\n
But for argument’s sake, let’s assume it’s true. <\/p>\n
If it’s true, it’s foolish, for many reasons.<\/p>\n
First, in general, what can we say about the idea of deep state resistance? Do the bureaucrats owe allegiance to the new administration, or can they press their own agendas? <\/p>\n
This should be obvious. The president has the right and the authority to set the agenda for his administration. The bureaucrat’s job is not to agree with it, or to love it, but to implement it. If he can’t do that in good conscience, he should resign. Everyone who takes a government job knows that administrations change, and that ideas come and go. If you can’t deal with that, work somewhere else. Undermining the president is not a valid option. It’s a dishonorable way to behave. <\/p>\n
Except<\/i><\/b> in an extraordinary case — e.g., if the president were a traitor. In that case, duty to the country would take precedence. The hyperventilating left \/ media industrial complex wanted us to believe that was the case with Trump, but that was idiotic from the start. <\/p>\n
That’s why deep state resistance is wrong on principle. It’s also wrong practically, from a conservative point of view. <\/p>\n
Washington, D.C., is a liberal town. Government is a liberal occupation. The “deep state” will always<\/i> tilt liberal, substantially, so the idea of a deep state tit for tat as administrations change will be more like tit for WHAM, SLAM, KABOOM! <\/p>\n
By asking the conservative deep state to fight against Biden, DeVos would be legitimizing this dishonorable conduct. Aside from being wrong on principle, it’s radically stupid. It’s a battle conservatives can’t win, and it takes away their ability to call out the liberals when they do it. <\/p>\n
Update<\/b> — Pigweed and Crowhill did a “Nooze and Booze” episode on this one. <\/p>\n