Civilised societies depend on institutions. The more complex the society, the more vital those institutions. Institutions provide stability, predictability and security. Companies, schools, universities, and courts are all institutions. But the most important institutions are those of the state. This is why Donald Trump’s assault on what his supporters misleadingly call “the deep state” is so dangerous. Some of them think the state should be servile to the whims of the great leader. Others think it should be at the service of the wealthy. Both sides agree that its ability to meet the needs of the wider public is of little significance. These views are dangerous. They are harbingers of autocracy, plutocracy and dysfunction.
文明社会依赖各类机构。社会越复杂，这些机构就越重要。机构提供稳定性、可预测性和安全性。公司、学校、大学和法院都是机构。但最重要的机构是政府机构。这就是为什么唐纳德•特朗普(Donald Trump)对其支持者错误指称的“深层政府”(deep state)的攻击如此危险。他们中的一些人认为政府应该逢迎这位伟大领袖的异想天开。其他人则认为它应该为富人服务。而双方一致认为，其满足广泛公众需求的能力并不重要。这些观点是危险的。它们是专制、财阀统治和功能失灵的先兆。