As I watched New Party lawmaker Hsieh Chi-ta's (
Anyone who has handled money knows that this is a typical financial muddle.
It features funds moved from one account to another, the mixing of private and public funds and many other details impossible to audit.
But the most mystifying of all was Chen Pi-yun's (
The argument at stake here is very simple: it is wrong to mix public funds with private money.
The sudden appearance of large amounts of money in anyone's account is suspicious.
It is also illegal to use the accounts of colleagues as "dummies" to cover up overseas remittances.
But during the news conference, Chen proclaimed her professionalism from beginning to end.
She even said -- with relish -- "I have always been very conscientious about money."
She then proclaimed her innocence, saying she had been a victim of mudslinging.
Even more unbelievable was Hsieh's eulogy of herself as "meticulous," "conscientious" and "a capable financial manager."
Soong once again confirmed Chen's trustworthy character, noting that she has not received any fees for her work during the entire affair and calling that a virtue.
Did the news conference proceed in such an unprofessional manner because, in our society, procedural flaws can be covered up and obscured by a "morality of intent"?
Obviously, there is a safety nook in our social conscious-ness, which allows anyone claiming "good faith" to speak in a loud, high-sounding voice, unaware that such claims of good intentions do not absolve illegal acts.
Let us hope that Soong's financial scandal will help do away with such mystification in our political culture.
Ping Lu is a novelist and social critic.
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