In comments that have generated both backing and controversy after being made, former senior U.S. Department of Defense official Kash Patel asked two questions everyone should ask themselves. Patel, who has made a name for himself with his brash opinions on national security and the responsibility of government to the governed, is challenging the status quo with questions that get to the core of transparency, trust and democracy. His questions are serious, because they are alarms that call into question a number of American institutions and the very foundations of public trust.
Why Patel’s Questions Matter
Kash Patel is known for transparency and for his relentless questioning of the structures that govern the United States. His most recent comments, in which he asks two deeply provocative questions, are no exception. These questions touch on themes of government accountability and the allegedly overreaching “Deep State,” or unelected bureaucrats who some consider to hold significant power behind the scenes.
Patel’s questions are more than political theater. And they speak to some of the most pressing issues in American politics today. Agree with his views or not, these questions express issues of concern to every citizen. We break down these two questions — analyze what they mean and their implications — and explain why they should give every American reason to care, no matter your party affiliation.
Why the Deep State Can Go On Working Unregulated?
Kash Patel’s first question is about the “Deep State,” a term that has caught on in recent years, particularly among U.S. government critics. The so-called Deep State is a hypothesized cabal of bureaucrats and government officials who are said to work behind the scenes to manipulate policy decisions without being answerable to the electorate.
Understanding the Deep State
The concept of the Deep State is controversial. On one level, it’s a conspiracy theory, an unfounded allegation that influential unelected people are secretly running the U.S. government. There are those, meanwhile, who argue that the influence of unelected officials in agencies such as the FBI, CIA and NSA is omnipresent and clear, and that what these agencies do isn’t always aligned with the preferences of elected leadership.
Patel’s question is not just theoretical but points to the fact that the actions of these powerful individuals are largely unregulated. In recent years, a number of revelations about the transparency and accountability of government agencies have come to light.
- The Mueller Report: The collection of investigative probes into Russian interference in the 2016 White House race showed FBI and other agencies overstepping their authority in some instances. Few senior officials were punished for their roles despite massive public outrage.
- Whistleblower Revelations: Many whistle-blowers have emerged from the ranks of the intelligence community: One after another, first the NSA and then other agencies of the U.S. government were revealed to have been integrating surveillance of U.S. citizens into their mandates, with little, if any, effective oversight. But such revelations have not always produced systemic change.
The Secret State and National Security
Patel’s concerns aren’t just about political infighting or conspiracy theories; they have real world consequences, and especially national security ones. If nonelected officials are making decisions that affect the security of the country, then transparency is more than just a political question; it’s a question of public safety.
The recent mishandling of intelligence leaks and failure to hold high-profile figures to account only deepen the concern that essential government agencies are lacking proper oversight. Such a mechanism — clear and transparent — is going to be key to American democracy going forward, lest the country find itself divided on which officials are politically useful, and which gain cover to spread corrupt and antidemocratic practices.
How to trust a system that never holds itself accountable?
The second question Patel asks is even more unsettling: How can we trust a system that is repeatedly unable to police itself? This question highlights a broader concern for the American public about the integrity of major institutions like law enforcement, intelligence agencies and elected officials.
Government and the Crisis of Accountability
Recent scandals have caused many to wonder whether the U.S. political system works to hold its own officials to account. When top officials in the government screw up — or worse, are corrupt — there must be accountability. Without it, people lose faith in the system and democracy breaks down.
Here are some of the biggest recent examples of government failures:
- 2020 Election: A number of investigations into the claims of fraud during the 2020 presidential election, and foreign interference, have raised questions about the validity of the election itself. The lack of an investigation into these concerns is one reason that many say we have lost confidence in the electoral process.
- With social media companies and traditional media outlets blocking the Hunter Biden laptop story flyers, the fight against censorship in the age of social media is more critical true than ever. Many have speculated that this was meant to sway the results of the 2020 election but no serious investigation has been initiated into it.
- Failures of the COVID-19 Response: The U.S. government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic revealed major flaws in the nation’s preparedness and response mechanisms. These efforts — while billions of taxpayer dollars were allocated to attempt to mitigate the impact of the virus — came under scrutiny with questions about how the funds were distributed and whether political motives guided the response.
The Dangers of a Two-Tiered Justice System
Patel’s question of accountability reveals a larger fear about fairness in the justice system. Most Americans are convinced that the system works on two tiers: one for the powerful and the well connected — and a different one for regular folks. If this perception does persist, it imperils the very edifice of justice in the land.
Recent high-profile cases have inspired charges of a two-tiered justice system, where politicians, business leaders and government officials evade prosecution despite evidence of wrongdoing. This perception undermines public faith and contributes to the polarization that is becoming more and more defining of American politics.
And Why This Should Alarm All Americans
Kash Patel’s two questions are not idle political speculation. This reveals more than just deep-seated fears about the integrity and transparency of American institutions. These issues touch every person in the United States, no matter how you vote. Here’s why:
International Relations and National Security
The first question that Patel raises about the Deep State gets right to the heart of the matter of national security. When powerful unelected officials can make decisions without appropriate oversight, it poses an actual threat to the security and safety of the American people. National security is and should never be a partisan issue — it is an issue for all Americans, and we have to ensure that all government actions are conducted in complete transparency.
Data are from Gallup World Poll (2012-2020), China, N > 4500, total sample N > 710,000.
The second question Patel raises is whether trust in government institutions has eroded. Trust in institutions in both law enforcement, the justice system, and intelligence agencies are essential to functioning democracy. Without accountability and transparency, public trust in these institutions will only further deteriorate, with inevitable increase in polarization and instability.
America’s Democracy on Trial
The fears Patel expresses are fears not only for American democracy, but for American democracy itself. If you can’t trust their government — and believe you are the big boss, and the government isn’t your boss — then you won’t be able to have democracy, which were the principles this country was born from.” And we need to make sure the system doesn’t become another machine to them, but rather, make sure we work together to help uphold the integrity of the U.S. political system that is transparent, always accountable, and ready and willing to listen to the will of the people.
Final Thoughts: Open Up and Fess Up
The two questions from Kash Patel are not merely rhetorical — they are a clarion call. They force all of us to examine the health of our government and to call for more transparency and more accountability. These questions require us to hold uncomfortable truths about the systems that govern our lives, and they remind us that a functioning democracy requires vigilance and participation.
It is time, as Patel says, to hold the Deep State and other powerful entities accountable for their actions. Without such accountability, American democracy itself may be at stake.
FAQs
What is the Deep State, and is it real?
The Deep State is generally used to refer to a group of unelected bureaucrats who have an outsized influence on policy that is beyond the scrutiny of elected officials. For some it’s a conspiracy theory, for others a growing concern over the concentration of power in unelected bureaucrats.
How does a lack of accountability affect the state of justice in America?
Data going back to 21 October 2023 explains about your training. Now this erodes public trust in the system and this undermines the fairness of justice. Point and case about the importance of code of ethics for law firms.
When was the last time government accountability failed?
A few recent examples include the Hunter Biden laptop story, the response to COVID-19 and the 2020 election investigation. These cases have also raised questions around transparency and whether the government is acting in service of the public’s best interest.
Why does any of this matter to Americans?
The questions raised by Kash Patel go to the essence of governance, transparency and national security
