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.
Americans agree on corruption, but partisanship shapes who is blamed
English Summary
While Americans show broad consensus on the definition of corruption—including abuse of power and quid pro quo—partisan affiliation significantly shapes how they assign blame. Evidence shows that voters judge the same conduct more harshly when committed by the opposing party, undermining democratic accountability. However, the analysis finds a critical opportunity: across party lines, Americans overwhelmingly support institutional accountability (e.g., ethics investigations) rather than relying solely on electoral punishment. Policymakers should therefore focus on structural reforms that address underlying institutional weaknesses, such as strengthening independent ethics bodies and civil service protections, rather than pursuing partisan scandals.
中文摘要
雖然美國人對於腐敗的定義（包括權力濫用和對價交換）具有廣泛共識，但其黨派歸屬卻極大地影響了他們如何進行歸責。證據顯示，當相同行為由對立政黨實施時，選民會更嚴厲地評判，從而削弱了民主問責制。然而，分析發現了一個關鍵機會：跨越黨派界限，美國人普遍支持制度性問責（例如倫理調查），而非僅依賴選舉懲罰。因此，政策制定者應專注於解決潛在制度弱點的結構性改革，例如強化獨立倫理機構和公務員保護，而非追逐黨派醜聞。
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