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Taiwan's political time-warp is shifting

Taiwan politics remains a world of old men. However, the age level is falling. In the past, only those over 70 felt the pressure to make way for others. Now this is happening perhaps five or 10 years earlier. Another difference is that the old people in power have gradually learnt, through elections, that seeing through the spectacles of their own generation is not enough: they also need to to appeal to the young from time to time.

Chen Shui-bian's (3¯?ô«ó) successful bid for Taipei mayor and his performance in that job was a turning point. Chen placed a bunch of young people around him. He did and said whatever they taught him. He may not have known exactly what the words meant or what role he was playing. But it did not matter. His words and performances caught on, turning him into the most popular political figure among young people.

From the Chen phenomenon, we can see how intensely Tai-wan's youth yearn for respect and understanding, and how out of sync Taiwan politics has been from them.

One effect of Chen's success has been imitation. Politicians now think that a few glib punchlines and a couple of fashionable trends will pull them closer to young people. I believe Vincent Siew (¿½¸Uªø) must have been feeling smart and up-to-date when he was schmoozing with pop-singer-turned-talk-show-host Wu Chung-hsien (§d©v¾Ë).

However, if you don't really know who Wu is and what kind of show he hosts, then you don't know how to weigh your connection with him. Which means you don't really know how to define your taste.

Another big hassle of getting old is that you become more inert and slower to learn. You stubbornly reject new things and new ideas. When given a convenient shortcut, you would put on these new things and new ideas like a mask and throw away their essence.

In the short time between Chen's leaving office and his presidential bid, Taiwan has been quietly undergoing a generational revolution. A new generation is quickly taking over as decision-makers in many areas, especially in the industrial sector.

Can Taiwan's old politicians truly lead us into the 21st century by just uttering terms like "computer," "Internet," and "electronic era?" We need a real, thorough renewal in everything from lifestyle to values.

Yang Chao is editor in chief of The Journalist magazine.
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