Media Policy Staff Writer

Ethan Na

Ethan Na is a Southern California high school student deeply interested in how legislative action and institutional governance shape modern markets and the political economy.

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All articles by the author

Outgrowing the Compact: Why the American West Must Modernize Water Management

Environmental Policy

Ethan Na

Drafted nearly a century ago, interstate water compacts rely on archaic, unscientific models that completely separate surface water flows from underground aquifers. This op-ed argues that state water boards have weaponized these outdated administrative definitions to permit excessive upstream pumping, sparking multi-decade constitutional crises that threaten regional economic survival.

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The Hidden Cost of Milk Price Controls

Economic Policy

Ethan Na

Federal and state Milk Marketing Orders establish minimum milk prices in the name of market stability and agricultural security. Created during the Great Depression, these regulations continue to shape dairy markets today. This op-ed argues that the system may increase consumer costs and limit competition, therefore warranting renewed scrutiny nearly a century after its creation.

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The Certificate of Need Paradox: How Administrative Monopolies Degrade Rural Healthcare

Public Health Policy

Ethan Na

Across thirty-five states in the U.S., healthcare providers are legally barred from opening new clinics, adding hospital beds, or purchasing advanced diagnostic machinery without explicit regulatory approval. These framework restrictions, known as Certificate of Need (CON) laws, require applicants to prove to a state board that a community lacks sufficient medical options before expanding services. This op-ed argues that these statutes merely protect dominant hospital monopolies, leaving rural communities entirely unserved.

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Shifting the Blame: Why Moving Local Notices Online Threatens Transparency

National Policy

Ethan Na

This op-ed examines the growing practice of posting public notices on government websites instead of in independent newspapers. It argues that the change reduces transparency, weakens local journalism, and makes it more difficult for citizens to monitor government actions.

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Procedural Exclusion: The Costs of a Digital-Only Government

Technology Policy

Ethan Na

This piece examines the transition of American administrative services toward digital-exclusive platforms and the resulting marginalization of the nation’s senior population. It analyzes how the shift toward "paperless" bureaucracy creates a system of citizenship that compromises the constitutional principle of Due Process for those lacking technical proficiency. By evaluating the disconnect between infrastructure investment and functional access, the piece proposes a basic framework to protect the legal rights and dignity of older Americans.

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Policy Briefs by the author

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