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.
Michigan voters can shape the future of prison pay-to-stay
English Summary
The article argues that the upcoming Michigan Attorney General election presents a critical opportunity to end "pay-to-stay," a punitive practice allowing states to sue incarcerated individuals for the cost of their own confinement. This system is highly punitive, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, and can seize family assets and pensions. Policy analysts suggest that candidates should leverage the AG's immediate enforcement authority and build a bipartisan repeal campaign, following the successful model of Illinois. The strategy involves pairing moral arguments regarding human rights with fiscal evidence demonstrating the law's wasteful inefficiency to pressure lawmakers for repeal.
中文摘要
本文指出，即將到來的密歇根州檢察長選舉提供了一個關鍵機會，用以終結「繳費留監」（pay-to-stay）這一懲罰性做法。此制度允許各州對被監禁的個人提起訴訟，要求其支付自身監禁的費用。此體系極具懲罰性，不成比例地影響邊緣化群體，甚至可能沒收家庭資產和退休金。政策分析師建議，候選人應利用檢察長即時的執法權力，並效仿伊利諾州成功的模式，建立兩黨合作的廢除運動。其策略是將關於人權的道德論點，與證明該法律浪費低效的財政證據結合，從而向立法者施壓，要求廢除該法規。
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