The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Note to Bessent and Congressional Republicans: Greedflation Is Still Bad Economics
English Summary
The article argues that the 'greedflation' narrative—which blames corporate price gouging for inflation—is economically unsound. It posits that recent price spikes, such as those in energy, are primarily the result of supply shocks (e.g., geopolitical conflicts like the war in Iran) or excessive monetary and fiscal stimulus. The author contends that market prices reflect true scarcity and opportunity cost, making corporate greed an insufficient explanation for widespread price increases. Policymakers, therefore, must shift accountability away from consumers and companies and instead hold governments and central banks responsible for the policies that generate inflationary pressures.
中文摘要
本文主張「貪婪通脹」（greedflation）敘事——即將通脹歸咎於企業哄抬價格——在經濟學上缺乏根據。文章提出，近期能源等價格飆升，主要源於供應衝擊（例如伊蘭戰爭等地緣政治衝突）或過度的貨幣與財政刺激。作者認為，市場價格反映的是真正的稀缺性與機會成本，因此，將企業的貪婪視為普遍物價上漲的解釋，是遠遠不夠的。因此，政策制定者必須將責任歸屬從消費者和企業轉移開來，轉而追究政府和中央銀行在產生通脹壓力政策上的責任。
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