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DPP needs to find its soul and ideals again

After six years of rule under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the public already has a clear idea of the party's performance. Nowhere in the administration can pro-independence activists see any push for localization and national identification.

Today, the capability, morals and ideals of the DPP have all been called into question. Ironically, despite accusations of the DPP's close ties to the business world, the majority of the businesses that are actually making a profit are run by pan-blue supporters. The party's elected officials have not performed much better. Their ethical standards have slipped far below when they served in the opposition. All of these have saddened and angered the party's supporters. Not surprisingly, the ruling party's approval rating has fallen drastically.

After coming to power in 2000, the DPP quickly took on an image not unlike that of the corrupt Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). As the saying goes, power is a mirror that reveals the true faces of politicians. The administration's ideals have been lost in the "pursuit of economic growth." Officials are so busy socializing with businesspeople that they have forgotten about public hardships.

Meanwhile, rumors about elected representatives at all levels making inappropriate gains in Taiwan and China continue to surface. Whenever the government announces a tightening in cross-strait policies, these are quickly attacked by former pro-independence politicians.

During the presidential election campaign in 2000, a united DPP defeated a split KMT. But after two major defeats, the blue camp has learned its lesson and united under the leadership of KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九).

Unfortunately for the DPP, the party is coming apart as heavyweights repeatedly criticize or lash out at other officials or members, including the president, much to the dismay of its supporters.

After the defeat in the three-in-one local elections last December, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) kept silent for a month. He then came out with a new cross-strait policy that advocates "active management" and ceased the functions of the National Unification Council and the application of its guidelines. Gradually, supporters have noticed his efforts to return to a pro-localization line.

However, this has not stopped party members from attacking the president. While criticizing Chen's China policy -- which prioritizes Taiwan's interests -- some party officials intentionally revealed that the president's approval rating has dropped to a new low of 18 percent. What's more, these officials quickly sought to distance themselves from the president to safeguard their own interests. Obviously, they have not learned anything from the party's election defeat and are incapable of self-reflection.

The DPP seems to be running scared after Ma's seemingly successful US trip. But Ma -- the Taipei mayor who has yet to prove himself as an effective official -- is not the threat. Neither is the pro-blue media that has been busy building up Ma's image. Rather, the threat comes from within, that is, the DPP's corruption. Before the 2000 power transfer, the media also leaned heavily in favor of the pan-blue camp. However, the pub-lic, believing in the DPP's clean image and capability to create a vision for Taiwan, chose to cast their lot with the party. Unfortunately, the party has lost itself in the power struggle and forgotten its promises to the public.

What the DPP needs now is not a forum on party affairs or a debate on its policies. Rather, it needs to engage in soul searching, revive its ideals, restore party discipline and recover lost moral ground. This is the only way to regain the public's passionate support.

Kuo Chang-feng is a member of the Northern Taiwan Society.

Translated by Eddy Chang
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