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.
Santa Monica’s Recent Economic and Social Trends: A Case Study with Regional Comparisons
English Summary
The RAND report finds that Santa Monica experienced a pronounced post-pandemic economic downturn, with retail and tourism sales declining more severely than peer cities. While the city faces persistent challenges—including concentrated homelessness and crime downtown—the analysis notes that the new leadership has initiated substantial policy reforms, particularly in streamlining housing development and promoting economic growth. These reforms suggest a positive shift in the city's trajectory, but structural barriers and regulatory hurdles remain key areas for policy intervention to ensure sustained economic recovery.
中文摘要
RAND報告指出，聖莫尼卡在疫情後經歷了顯著的經濟衰退，其零售和旅遊業銷售額的下降幅度比同儕城市更為嚴重。儘管該市面臨持續的挑戰，包括市中心集中化的無家可歸者和犯罪問題，但分析指出，新領導層已啟動了實質的政策改革，特別是在簡化住房開發和推動經濟增長方面。這些改革顯示出該市軌跡的積極轉變，但結構性障礙和監管門檻仍是政策干預的關鍵領域，以確保經濟復甦的持續性。
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