Letter: Taiwan truly democratic

Corruption, large or small, is bad and should be punished severely. However, it is odd for those most guilty of corruption to harang others as if they themselves were clean and honest.

Many people say that the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was corrupt during its 55 years in power and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has become corrupt over the last five or six years. The KMT was a good mentor, and the DPP is obviously a fast learner.

Under the one-party dictatorship of the KMT era, no one dared say a word about corruption involving the first family, government officials or the party as a whole because the courts were under the thumb of the KMT.

The "connection between the party's coffers and the national coffers" was taken for granted because the party was above the nation. Since losing political power, the KMT has also lost its financial wealth. What does this imply?

KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has sold some US$200 million of partisan assets which were considered national assets by many people. The KMT has already spent 89 percent of this money. What will Ma sell next?

People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) is generally considered a symbol of corruption, but it is he who is bravely leading the pan-blues in asking President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to step down to take responsibility for corruption of several government officials and alleged insider trading by his son-in-law.

Soong is also pushing a recall bid. He should take a look at himself in the mirror.

Under the DPP administration, the government and government officials are watched like hawks. Taiwan has become a truly democratic country with an independent judicial system. People in Taiwan should be proud of this achievement.

Charles Hong
Columbus, Ohio