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 Trump Transaction Tax”
English Summary
The article argues that President Trump has established a 'transaction tax' system where access to federal contracts and favorable policy outcomes are effectively purchased through massive corporate donations. Evidence points to the collection of over $800 million via Trump-linked committees, with officials allegedly linking contributions directly to discretionary decisions regarding permits, tariffs, and government equity stakes. This mechanism transforms Washington into a market for political favors, where companies divert resources from sound business judgment to maintain access. The implication is that policy decisions are no longer based on free market principles but on political proximity, creating a fundamentally distorted 'shakedown economy.'
中文摘要
本文論述，川普總統已建立了一種「交易稅」體系，根據該體系，企業必須透過鉅額捐款來購買進入聯邦合約和獲得有利政策結果的權益。證據指出，透過與川普相關的委員會已收集了超過八億美元的資金；據稱，官員們將這些捐款直接與關於許可證、關稅及政府股權等方面的裁量決策掛鉤。此機制將華盛頓轉變為一種政治恩惠的市場，使得企業不得不從健全的商業判斷中分流資源以維持其進入渠道。其潛在涵義是，政策決定不再基於自由市場原則，而是依賴政治親近度，從而創造了一個根本扭曲的「敲詐經濟」。
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