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 future of US transportation policy demands new ways to pursue long-standing goals
English Summary
The Brookings report argues that the current US transportation policy paradigm, which heavily prioritized interstate commerce and sprawl, has created severe distress in built-up areas, leading to congestion, safety hazards, and escalating household costs. Key evidence points to stifled industrial competitiveness, inconsistent infrastructure quality in urban centers, and major public health risks, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. To address these widespread challenges, the report advises that policymakers must develop a new intergovernmental paradigm, requiring states and local jurisdictions to coordinate efforts and agree on rebalanced, higher-order goals—specifically public health, economic prosperity, and industrial competitiveness—to move beyond outdated priorities.
中文摘要
布魯金斯報告指出，當前美國的交通政策範式過度側重於州際商業和城市蔓延，已在建成區造成嚴重的困境，導致交通壅塞、安全隱患，並使家庭成本不斷攀升。關鍵證據顯示，這導致了產業競爭力受抑、城市中心基礎設施品質不一致，以及特別針對行人與自行車族的重大公共衛生風險。為了解決這些普遍的挑戰，報告建議政策制定者必須建立新的政府間範式，要求各州和地方管轄區協調努力，並就重新平衡、更高層次的目標達成共識——具體而言，應將公共衛生、經濟繁榮和產業競爭力納入考量，才能擺脫過時的優先事項。
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