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.
Electability over ideology: Takeaways from the 2026 primaries
English Summary
The 2026 primaries reveal that electability, rather than strict ideology, is the dominant force shaping American political behavior. Candidates across both parties are moderating their stances, with centrist figures winning over ideological extremes, as voters prioritize viability in competitive races. Key policy issues driving this shift are 'affordability' (inflation) and 'health care,' which both parties are expected to emphasize in the general election. Consequently, the political strategy for the upcoming cycle will center on economic concerns and social safety nets, forcing both Democrats and Republicans to moderate their messaging toward the median voter.
中文摘要
2026年初選揭示，塑造美國政治行為的主導力量已不再是嚴格的意識形態，而是參選可行性。兩黨候選人都在緩和其立場，中間派人物正在取代意識形態極端派的地位，因為在競爭激烈的競選中，選民更重視勝選的機會。推動這一轉變的關鍵政策議題是「生活成本/可負擔性」（通膨）和「醫療保健」，這兩項議題預計將成為兩黨在全國大選中強調的重點。因此，即將到來的政治策略將圍繞經濟關切和社會安全網展開，迫使民主黨和共和黨都必須將其訊息傳遞趨向中間選民，從而採取更為溫和的立場。
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