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Research Archive

Working Papers

Working Papers are focused analytical pieces that examine discrete aspects of institutional capture, systemic risk, and democratic erosion. Unlike our long-form Manuscripts, these papers are self-contained analyses designed for timely dissemination of research findings.

Each paper undergoes iterative revision as new evidence emerges. PDF versions are provided for archival and citation purposes.

WP-001

The Architecture of Ignorance: Systemic Risk and the Destruction of Public Signal

Jason I. Oh

Hemlock Collective Working Paper No. 001 • December 2025 • v1.0

This essay applies systems engineering frameworks to analyze the deliberate dismantling of federal statistical infrastructure under Project 2025. Drawing on two decades of experience building observability systems for high-stakes financial and technological platforms, I argue that the coordinated attack on agencies such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration represents not "deregulation," but the systematic destruction of the state's capacity to measure reality.

Keywords: Democratic backsliding • Observability • Administrative law • Project 2025 • Epistemic capture • Statistical agencies
Cite this paper
Jason I. Oh, "The Architecture of Ignorance: Systemic Risk and the Destruction of Public Signal," Hemlock Collective Working Paper No. 001 (December 2025), https://hemlockcollective.com/papers/the-architecture-of-ignorance/
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