President Chen Shui-bian (
The strange thing is that it is these powerful people who constantly ask Chen to improve the nation's economy. It seems there is nothing wrong with seeing the poor in the countryside suffering while the rich are whining about their dwindling incomes. Clearly, the latter will emerge as the winners if Chen falls for their tricks.
This phenomenon indicates a cruel fact: Too much of the nation's economy is concentrated in Taipei, where it is dominated by a handful of privileged people. Therefore, Chen has to come to his senses and re-establish a Taiwanese consciousness among the public rather than focusing all his attention on the economic growth rate.
Ever since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came to power in 2000, it has indeed attempted to appeal to centrist voters by sidestepping the issue of the sovereignty of Taiwan, and some party members have even regarded the issue as a real vote loser. Meanwhile, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) unexpectedly took the opportunity to promote the idea of localization and KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
I would like to suggest that the DPP should openly promote Taiwanese literature, art and music, and that the Ministry of Education should include the literary works of Taiwanese writers into the elementary school curriculum. The Examination Yuan could also include such works in their civil servant examination while the Council for Cultural Affairs could hold competitions with local Taiwanese themes.
In addition, Taiwan's media outlets are focused on Taipei and this has contributed to social tension. The just-concluded local government elections were obviously manipulated by the media outlets based in Taipei, and the results also catered to the expectations of people living in Taipei. Therefore, the government should move state-run media outlets out of Taipei in the near term.
As a result of the last dozen years of education reform, the proportion of students in cities, particularly Taipei, continuing their studies have increased, while schools in rural areas have become a shelter for incompetent teachers or temporary bases for teachers intending to transfer to better schools. This is also something the government has to deal with.
If Chen really wants to become a true president for all Taiwan, he should direct all his efforts toward enhancing culture and education, rebuilding the thinking of the Taiwanese public, and shaping the national spirit.
Bob Kuo is professor of information systems at the National Sun Yat-sen University.
Translated by Daniel Cheng
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