In recent years, much has been written and revealed about the so-called Deep State (aka the permanent bureaucracy and its stooges in elected office). This is nothing new – many writers have revealed this institution in governments through the ages and around the planet. Science fiction writers in particular have used fiction to explain (and usually to condemn) this institution. Or is it better to use negative terms like cabal and gang?

Are we not correct in saying that the permanent bureaucracy and the powers it wields are nothing more than a perversion of government processes and an active participant in denying many of the various human rights that governments supposedly exist to protect? That even in an evil organization, there are degrees of evil. Degrees that the deep state demonstrates?

But there is another aspect which is getting more attention these days. We call it the “hidden state” and believe it has at least two elements.

First are the contractors that provide goods and services to the government. Not just equipment, supplies, and such services as janitorial service and vehicle repair. Often, the government contracts out entire functions and departments: a process called GOCO (government-owned, contractor-operated) or CA (commercial activities). These include mapping, property records, appraisals, maintenance and management of government properties, and so forth.

The second, and perhaps more critical to the battle for liberty, are the NGO: the Non-Governmental Organizations. In our opinion, “NGO” is an oxymoron.

An investment dictionary on line tells us that NGO is “an organization that is independent from government, [emphasis in original] typically formed as a nonprofit entity. NGOs pursue goals related to the public, social, or political good, and they can be active in humanitarianism, social sciences, or other areas. They are not affiliated with any government and operate independently.” {investopedia.com)

To this we reply, “garbage.”

We don’t know who first said this, but we found it at afnn.us (the American Free News Network). “NGOs that receive the majority of their funding from government grants are not truly ‘non-governmental.'” We would even go further: if government grants (or loans) are significant sources of funds for an NGO it is just another arm of government. And we might even include more than grants: contracts and cooperative agreements. Even MSN admits that “many NGOs receive funding from … governments through” these things.

And honestly, that stinks.

The current crusade/jihad by The Donald and DOGE’s Elon are revealing that the relationship between various government agencies and the so-called NGOs is even more tight – and disgusting – than most of us imagined. (It is making more and more people wake up: people who used to call us “anti-government” and condemn us for it are now sometimes telling us that they agree. Some people.)

It is not that NGOs are parasites on governments the way governments are parasites on the body politic. It is a symbiotic—and often incestuous—relationship that is highly beneficial to both groups. For one thing, it allows them to prey on the people of the States more efficiently, which is something we here at TPOL find both gross and a bit frightening.

The hidden state’s big and small actors provide a valuable service to those government agencies in exchange for the grants government entities lavish on them. Whether it is “friendly lawsuits” by environist groups against the EPA, USFS, BLM, etc., or publishing glowing reports of the wonders of government and endlessly repeating the propaganda of agencies like the CDC, AID, DOJ, etc. The NGO bosses earn their princely salaries and incredible expense accounts (at least in the eyes of the politicians and bureaucrats shoveling money at them). And doesn’t even include the kickbacks and tips and expensive jaunts that the NGOs treat the politicians and all their minions to.

Did we say stink? Not just to high heaven, folks, but an odor so toxic that we want to cough our lungs out. (As Jesus once said, “Fear not those who can destroy the body, but rather those who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” Governments and NGOs have indeed created a manmade hell on earth, in our opinion.

Shall we discuss the contractors next?