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.
The Erosion of the Sources of American Economic Power
English Summary
The article argues that the aggressive and unilateral use of tariffs is eroding the foundational sources of American economic power and undermining global trust. Key evidence points to the administration's use of tariffs primarily for revenue generation, which has caused allies to feel unprepared and potentially seek alternative economic partnerships. Strategically, this policy weakens the U.S. global standing by increasing the national debt and making foreign investors wary of holding U.S. Treasury securities. Policymakers must therefore re-evaluate the reliance on tariffs as a primary foreign policy tool to restore allied confidence and ensure long-term economic stability.
中文摘要
本文論述，激進且單邊地使用關稅正在侵蝕美國經濟實力的基礎來源，並削弱全球信任。關鍵證據指出，該政府使用關稅的主要目的是為了創造財政收入，這使得盟國感到措手不及，並可能尋求替代性的經濟夥伴關係。從戰略角度來看，此一政策透過增加國債和令外國投資者對持有美國國庫證券產生疑慮，從而削弱了美國的全球地位。因此，政策制定者必須重新評估將關稅作為主要外交政策工具的依賴性，以恢復盟國的信心並確保長期的經濟穩定。
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