The article argues that the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike decision, while justifiable on inflation grounds, highlights a critical lack of an underlying, transparent policy framework. The core problem is that the Fed's decisions appear discretionary, leading to market uncertainty because the committee's judgment, rather than clear data, dictates policy shifts. The author proposes that the Fed adopt a formal monetary policy rule—an algebraic formula linking the target rate to indicators like inflation and unemployment—to replace subjective guidance. Implementing such a rule would provide market predictability, enhance transparency, and shield the Fed from political attacks by making deviations from the standard easily quantifiable.
USPS Issues Proposed Mail Voting Rules Pursuant to Trump Executive Order
English Summary
The USPS has proposed sweeping changes to mail voting rules, significantly expanding the federal postal service's role from a mere delivery vendor to a key arbiter of election validity and ballot tracking. This shift transfers complex, previously localized functions—such as determining ballot eligibility and handling invalid returns—to the USPS, a role the author deems legally vague and operationally unfeasible. The proposed rule presents a massive infrastructural burden that the USPS would have to implement within months, raising serious doubts about its practical viability. Ultimately, the rule's implementation is highly vulnerable to ongoing legal challenges and logistical hurdles, suggesting potential instability in the nation's election administration.
中文摘要
美國郵政服務局（USPS）提議對郵寄投票規則進行大規模變革，大幅提升了聯邦郵政服務的角色，使其從單純的投遞供應商，轉變為選舉有效性判斷和選票追蹤的關鍵仲裁者。此一轉變將原本複雜且通常由地方執行的職能——例如決定選票資格和處理無效退回的選票——轉移給了美國郵政服務局。作者認為，此角色定位在法律上模糊且操作上難以實行。該提議規則要求美國郵政服務局在數月內實施巨大的基礎設施負擔，引發了其實際可行性方面的嚴重質疑。最終而言，此規則的實施極易受到持續的法律挑戰和後勤障礙的影響，暗示著國家選舉管理體系可能存在潛在的不穩定性。
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