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.
On its 250 th birthday, the US is still defined by its fault lines
English Summary
The article argues that despite its longevity, the US remains defined by deep internal 'fault lines,' suggesting a foundational crisis of democratic legitimacy. Key evidence includes plummeting public trust in government (down to 18%), rising anti-establishment sentiment, and an alarming shift from political polarization toward radicalization and violence. The implication for policy is that the traditional two-party system is fracturing, necessitating strategic attention to restoring institutional faith and addressing systemic economic and social inequities before further democratic erosion occurs.
中文摘要
本文論述，儘管美國歷史悠久，但其仍受困於深刻的內部「裂痕」，暗示著民主合法性面臨根本危機。關鍵證據包括公眾對政府信任度的暴跌（低至18%）、反建制情緒的上升，以及令人擔憂的現象——從政治兩極化轉向激進主義和暴力傾向。政策上的啟示是，傳統的兩黨體系正在瓦解，這要求必須戰略性地關注重建制度信任，並解決系統性的經濟與社會不平等問題，以防止民主進一步遭到侵蝕。
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