For some unknown reason, voters in Taiwan have a thing for politicians who present themselves as oppressed martyrs. The more a politician portrays himself as a victim, the more popular he becomes. No one has perfected this art better than the People First Party Chairman James Soong (
No one expected Ma to be overjoyed by the cut. But the level of rage in Ma's histrionics seems disproportionately high. After all, Taipei's share was reduced by a mere 3 percent -- NT$1.3 billion. It will still receive 71 percent of the entire tax redistribution fund. That is more than double the 29 percent that Kaohsiung City receives.
In addition, Executive Yuan Minister Hu Sheng-cheng (
The fight over the tax redistribution fund has become an annual ritual. The difference this year is that Taipei City had always been the winner in the past. Arguments that efforts must be made to equalize resources between north and south Taiwan are not without merits. It is time to narrow the development gap between the two.
Nevertheless, Ma's sense of grievance is immense. When asked if he feels the central government is "using every chance to attack him," Ma said "I am the `victim,' I am not at liberty to answer the question."
While the mayor may feign coyness, his friends have no hesitation in saying what he isn't "at liberty" to say. KMT lawmaker Mu Ming-chu (
Evidently, the KMT is seizing the opportunity to escalate what should have been a petty disagreement into an all-out battle to make the DPP administration look bad, thereby polishing Ma's image as a victim. Not coincidentally, Ma has recently replaced Soong as the most likely presidential hopeful for the opposition alliance in the next presidential election.
If the KMT truly has its heart set on sending Ma to the Presidential Office, it has its work cut out for it -- and Ma must take care as well. His perceived inability to win support outside of Taipei City, especially in southern Taiwan, is a big obstacle. He can't over-react every time he thinks Taipei is losing out to its southern rival to the point of provoking the resentment of voters in the south.
On the other hand, the Chen Shui-bian (
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