I think we are all familiar with the phrase “canary in a coal mine.” Covid should have served as such a warning signal about the overreach and abuses of the Administrative State. Those of us that deal with the Administrative State on a daily basis, knew what it was like, but covid was the first real taste the American people at large had of their ways. But we were all too embarrassed by the fact that we bought into it initially. We simply wanted to turn the page and put it behind us. The warning signs were missed. So, into the canary role stepped Peanut the Squirrel – undoubtedly a factor in the movement that re-elected Donald J Trump.

But Peanut is only the beginning of the story.

I have written countless times about the abuses of the Administrative State and how they focus, in particular, on the little guy because the big guys can fight back. But my stories still involve entrepreneurs, largely in manufacturing, and most people cannot relate. But everybody has a pet – everybody can relate to a pet squirrel. And the media knows a great human-interest story when they find one – so they go looking for more.

Yesterday, some conservative outlets started to report on the far larger than usual participation by the Amish communities in Pennsylvania voting than is historically the case. Turns out that earlier this year, in a manner totally reminiscent of the now infamous “Peanut raid,” officials raided an Amish dairy farm over violations of food safety guidelines. It appears the violations are in that grey zone between law and religious freedom. That’s important, but it is not where the real issue arises. Consider this caption to a photo in the underlying story:

Two Pennsylvania State Police vehicles can be seen at the Upper Leacock Township farm of Amos Miller on Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. Miller is an Amish farmer who has resisted following federal and state food safety regulations. State police said troopers were there to provide security for Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture employees who were serving a search warrant.

The big deal here is that armed – ARMED! – police were present at a regulatory, investigative visit to an Amish, you know the people that still use horse drawn carriages and are conscientious objectors when it comes to the military, farm. This was not a raid on a crack house – this was a search of some of the most peaceful people in the country.

In the story of Peanut, and now in this story, we find the Administrative State resorting to police state tactics when they are completely unwarranted. It is a raw, and frightening, exercise of power.

Both of these stories are from state agencies – thus they will not be under the direct purview of President-elect Trump. One of the biggest problems he had in his first term was the Administrative State within his own administration fighting against him. He will have a tall order in this term overcoming that, but he has the distinct advantage of a red tsunami at his back this time. But these two stories illustrate that more is necessary.

President Trump will have to use the enormous political advantage he now holds to urge, cajole and whatever else may be necessary to get the states into line as well. We are grossly over-regulated – this is an undeniable reality. But we are now seeing that over-regulation being used as justification for something far more insidious – the arbitrary and unjustified exercise of raw government force.

Taming the Administrative State should be the top domestic priority of the new Trump administration, and they need to make those efforts not only within the federal government but extend it to state and municipalities as well. They are going to need our help. In order for Team Trump to succeed in this effort we have to stand strongly behind them so that they have the political capital they need to reverse this tide. Stay vigilant, speak up.

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