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Editorial: Opportunism a turn-off for voters

Some say that politics is just clever deceit. If we examine the campaign promises of the two political camps during the Super Sunday election rallies this past weekend, it's apparent that both the blue and green camps are engaged in political trickery. Their slogans simply address problems that have been forced into the light by the media. Neither political camp understands its own failings, but have gone all out to attack those of their opponents.

It is difficult to know whether to laugh or cry.

The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), led by Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and the slogan "Oppose corruption, save Taiwan," called on hundreds of thousands of people to protest against the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government in Taipei.

Certainly, the high-profile Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp scandal is indicative of corruption within the DPP. But until the KMT returns to the public all the assets it stole, it has little grounds to criticize others for corruption.

The KMT could have more effectively attacked the DPP by highlighting the government's poor performance. Instead, Ma has blurred the focus by choosing "anti-corruption" as the main campaign issue. This only serves as a reminder of the KMT's outrageous corruption in the past and may even scare moderate voters away.

Similarly, the DPP's call to "Uphold reform, defend Taiwan" is an empty slogan. President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) seems to only get serious about pushing reforms before elections. Recent changes such as the government's cancelation of the 18 percent preferential interest rate for retired public servants, soldiers and teachers will improve the distribution of the nation's resources so that people in need can be taken care of. But the DPP attacked the preferential interest rate even before it came to power, so why has it only now become a campaign issue, after the party has been in power for nearly six years?

Apparently the DPP does not regard the promises it makes to the people as being of any importance -- there has been virtually no movement on judicial reform, cross-strait policy is an unpredictable rollercoaster ride and education reform remains stalled. Only now, faced with an election, has the government started to affirm the need for change, using any sensational slogan that comes to hand in an effort to attract votes.

This kind of political opportunism is at the root of the DPP's inconsistency and its inability to keep the faith of the electorate. Green-camp supporters can find no convincing explanations for the government's actions. It is no surprise then that they lack enthusiasm toward the current round of elections.

Taiwan's elections give the impression that they exist to benefit individuals, not the nation, because electoral tactics have not developed much beyond the smear campaigns and revelations of malfeasance -- including vote buying -- used during the martial law period. Little effort is made to focus on a party's policies, either at the local or central level.

Starting with this election, voters, whether they support the green or the blue camp, should cast their ballots for candidates whose policies they believe are the best. They must pressure candidates into making good on their promises, rather than being influenced by the antics of a small number of political superstars.

If voters continue to consider only ideology, this will only encourage politicians to promise whatever is necessary to appeal to voters in the excitement of an election campaign -- without any consideration for the consequences.

When politicians think they can escape responsibility for their electoral promises, it is the voters that ultimately suffer.
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