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Letter: Disappointed with Chen

I've watched TV reports on Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) trip to the US since March 19. Ma appears to be incredibly popular among US officials and academics, as well as overseas Chinese and students from Taiwan and China. This gave rise to a strong feeling: I believe President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has missed the opportunity that the Taiwanese people gave him to make a historical and political mark. Chen has really disappointed the public with his incompetent administration.

I joined the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) when I was a junior in college. However, I don't believe that in the long run, Taiwan should be united with China for the two countries are very different. I voted for pan-green candidates, not because I favored the pan-greens or advocate Taiwanese independence. I voted for pan-green candidates because I believe that a truly democratic country should have a system of checks and balances.

When the ruling KMT experienced an unprecedented defeat in 2000, many overseas students from Taiwan, including me, were overjoyed and cried, touched by the wisdom of the Taiwanese public.

However, after six years of DPP rule, are we better off than before? Obviously, we are not. After six years under President Chen, Taiwan has slid in several regards. Cross-strait relations have become frozen. The economy is in a slump. Educational reform has only made students' life more stressful and painful. The political scene is a hotbed of scandals and officials attacking one another. And, Taiwan's international status is even more isolated and marginalized.

Business scandals involving government officials also abound, such as the Taiwan high-speed rail project and the electronic toll collection system. There is also an increasing number of social issues, such as the skyrocketing suicide rate, card abusers, financial fraud and tragedies caused by the Taiwan Railway Administration's inefficiency.

What's worse, Taiwan seems to be divided by color -- green or blue. Not surprisingly, the ruling party always blames the KMT and China for all its woes. However, to ordinary people like me, we chose President Chen to resolve these domestic and foreign difficulties and make Taiwan a fairer, better and brighter country. People don't want to hear excuses on why the president can't do a better job.

Mr President, have you forgotten that you were hired to be a trouble-shooter and not a trouble maker? You haven't lived up to our expectations at all. What the public see is that you care more about yourself than the people of Taiwan.

To my disappointment, I have only only heard various ridiculous excuses from government officials, including the president himself. I haven't seen any of these so-called political heavyweights try to make people's lives better.

The Chen administration has not learned anything from the fiascos of the legislative election in 2004 and the three-in-one local elections last year nor reflected on their terrible performance ove the past six years. Administration officials still don't understand why moderate voters like me have given up on them. As Ma said, "There's no Ma Ying-jeou phenomenon. It's the DPP, not the KMT, that has defeated itself."

I wonder if these top ranking government officials, including President Chen, Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and all the Cabinet ministers are able to sleep well at night? It is really a shame that Chen missed a critical turning point (the year 2000) when he could have made himself the greatest president ever in Taiwan's history.

People commonly think that Ma is popular because he is good-looking, Harvard-educated, articulate and moderate. While these are undeniably true, Ma's popularity doesn't conflict with that of President Chen. Otherwise, people wouldn't have elected Chen as president the first time in 2000 (after he lost the mayoral election in 1998) and again in 2004.

In my opinion, Ma is now frantically popular largely because more and more so-called middle-of-the-road voters are really disappointed in the government and worried about Taiwan's future.

A great leader does his work with intrepidity, instead of shirking his responsibility by attacking others. However, our president usually covers his incompetence by condemning the KMT and China. Shouldn't he be the one responsible for all the mess in Taiwan?

I really wish that Ma could be our new president tomorrow. I can't wait another two years. I am not so naive to think that Ma can solve all of Taiwan's troubles. The Taiwanese do not need another hero. However, I truly believe that with his personal integrity and political perspective, Ma will work hard to make a mark in Taiwan's history. I am not sure whether Ma will be a good president, but I am definitely sure that our lives will only get worse under President Chen's administration.

Ma has delivered many speeches in the US, clearly stating his political course if the KMT reclaims power in 2008. For example, he thinks that the best way to solve the ideological discrepancies between Taiwan and China is to maintain the "status quo" for the next 30 to 50 years. I can't agree with him more although I am actually in favor of Taiwanese independence.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should sit down and negotiate important economic issues. These affairs are much more important than immediate independence or eventual unification. People across the strait absolutely don't want to go to war. Why do we have to deal with the ideological issues in such a rush? Taiwan and China should cooperate in many regards to provide their people with better lives.

As for independence or unification, why not leave that to future generations? They might be in a political and economic position to decide whether to unite or separate into two different countries. Whatever the future might hold, the current agenda shouldn't concern independence or unification.

Well, you might think that it's easier said than done. However, President Chen is not even saying it, let alone doing it.

Billy Kao
Taipei

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