Whenever there is an election, candidates often say the same thing in different ways: that they will keep the public interest in mind once in office. As for what is in the interest of the public — that is defined by politicians.
For example, when it comes to the use of farmland for agricultural purposes, the practice is in line with national interests and public support is high. However, some elected officials working for their own interests oppose the rules to make sure that farmland is used for agricultural purposes on the grounds that it would cause prices to collapse and make it impossible for farmland to be sold. In doing so, they completely ignore the loss and the fragmentation of large areas of farmland. As a result the agricultural land reform process has stalled.
None of the presidential candidates have displayed a clear stance on this issue.
Before an election, candidates try to get closer to voters, but after the election they quickly move closer to consortia and interest groups.
The legislature is flooded with villains and hypocrites from all parties. Most people hate villains, but as hypocrites are good at pretending, they are difficult to spot, and that gives them the freedom to play their dirty tricks. It is obvious how they would act if their personal interests conflicted with national interests, or if they were approached by lobbyists.
When that happens, it does not matter how strong the public backlash is, it will do no good: Recalling a legislator requires the dual threshold of a 50 percent voter turnout and more than half of the votes in favor of the recall.
After next year’s presidential election, Taiwan will be faced with a series of challenges, such as a new cross-strait situation, the impact of membership in regional economic and trade organizations, the amendment of the 12-year compulsory education system, pension reform, the declining birthrate and aging society, the privatization of state-owned enterprises and so on.
The nation needs not only a forward-looking and inclusive national leader with a highly efficient administrative team capable of coping with these changes, but also a Legislative Yuan that can act as a safety valve and reflect public opinion to keep the government in check.
A repeat of the situation in which the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) won the presidency and an absolute legislative majority must be avoided, thus preventing the KMT to do whatever it wants with no concern for public sentiment. The scenario produced a legislature that was a rubber stamp for the ruling party, while there was no mechanism through which the public could sanction the government.
Rather than pinning hopes on the conscience and self-restraint of politicians, it would be better not to have any of the parties gain an absolute legislative majority, as that could create an uncontrollable monster.
The legislature must no longer be allowed to sell out the public interest in non-transparent negotiations behind closed doors.
Unlike in authoritarian China, Taiwanese can decide their future at the ballot box. As a result of past personality cults, many voters developed a blind devotion to political figures, and in exchange got 16 tragic years. The bitter experience has taught Taiwan the need for diversity and inclusiveness, and voters need to return to reason.
In addition to demanding that candidates announce a shadow Cabinet to allow the public to see whether potential Cabinet members are as talented as candidates say, voters should also support young candidates, non-career politicians and emerging political parties that have new ideas, enthusiasm and the will to make commitments. This would inject new forces for reform into the legislature and help re-establish open debate and a consultative mechanism in place of the behind-closed-doors approach, helping it restore its oversight function.
Policy suggestions of each of the presidential candidates — on social housing, care for elderly people, abolition of nuclear power, the formation of a specific disaster administration authority and so on — are characterized by a lack of practical feasibility and an abundance of slogans, particularly when it comes to how these policies would be funded. There is no breaking of the mold, but instead a strong smell of typical electioneering.
Taiwan’s national debt stands at more than NT$6 trillion (US$180.2 billion) and people can no longer afford an extravagant lifestyle. Academics say that Taiwan must give up its greedy demands on welfare, otherwise whoever wins next year’s election will just be a king of beggars.
The question is whether the princess will turn back into Cinderella and the golden carriage back into a pumpkin following next year’s elections.
Lee Wu-chung is a professor of agricultural economics and a former director of the Yunlin County Department of Agriculture.
Translated by Clare Lear
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