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 Biggest Lie: The Prehistory of American Fascism, 1818–1915
English Summary
The article argues that white nationalism and fascist tendencies are deeply rooted in American history, tracing their origins not to European imports, but to foundational compromises like the Missouri Compromise. Key evidence includes the historical shift from viewing slavery as a temporary evil to promoting the belief that all men are unequal, coupled with the use of 'fake science' to deepen racist beliefs and expand the definition of 'inferior' groups. Understanding this indigenous American worldview is critical, as it implies that current domestic political movements and the nation's future trajectory must be analyzed through the lens of historical racial and authoritarian currents.
中文摘要
本文論述白人民族主義和法西斯傾向根深蒂固於美國歷史，其起源並非來自歐洲輸入，而是源自於米蘇里妥協案等基礎性妥協。關鍵證據包括歷史上對奴隸制度的觀點從「暫時的惡行」轉變為宣揚「所有人並不平等」的信念，以及結合使用「偽科學」來加深種族主義觀念並擴大「劣等群體」的定義。理解這種本土美國的世界觀至關重要，因為它意味著當前的國內政治運動和國家未來的發展軌跡，必須透過歷史上的種族和威權思潮的視角進行分析。
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