The new legislature has reported for work and will face high public expectations. Both major parties have pledged to work for legislative reforms and sunshine legislation, but how much effort they put toward such reforms remains to be seen.

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By Samantha Wu 吳珊珊
After losing last month's legislative elections, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has deplored the fact that it received less than one-fourth of the seats in the legislature, despite winning 38 percent of the votes.

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By Hsieh Chih-Lu 謝秩祿
After suffering defeat in last month's legislative elections, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is mending its wounds and reconsolidating support under the leadership of presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷). As the pan-blue camp now controls an absolute majority in the legislature, Hsieh's responsibility is large. He not only must win the presidential election to ensure a political balance over the next four years, he must also prevent the nation's economy from becoming subservient to China's, as has happened with Hong Kong.

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Keeping the global economy running smoothly will require more than China expanding demand and allowing real, effective exchange rate appreciation. Oil exporters, Japan, the euro zone and the US have a lot of work to do, too
By Simon Johnson and Jonathan Ostry
Everyone wants economic stability, and many are reluctant to abandon today what gave them stability yesterday. But trying to obtain stability from rigidity is illusory. The stability of the international financial system today depends on the willingness of countries with rigid exchange rates to allow greater flexibility.

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The US government staged a trial run of simulated computer attacks, physical attacks and psychological operations to test its readiness in the event of disasters. In many aspects, the response was inadequate
By Ted Bridis
It is the government's idea of a really bad day: Washington's Metro subway trains shut down. Seaport computers in New York go dark. Bloggers reveal locations of railcars with hazardous materials. Airport control towers are disrupted in Philadelphia and Chicago. Overseas, a mysterious liquid is found in London's subway.

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Academics say repugnance plays a large part in how we determine right and wrong
By Patricia Cohen
You can kill a horse to make pet food in California, but not to feed a person. You can hoist a woman over your shoulder while running a 253m obstacle course in the Wife-Carrying World Championship in Finland, but you can't hold a dwarf-tossing contest in France. You can donate a kidney to prevent a death and be hailed as a hero, but if you take any money for your life-saving offer in the US, you'll be thrown in jail.

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Feng Chien-san's opinion piece encouraged future leaders to pursue "video culture" ("New leader should take culture into video media," Jan. 31, page 8). There is a lot to be said on this subject and I'd like to add to the debate by calling for digital recordings of traditional Taiwanese performing arts with English subtitles.

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Bravo to Presidential Office Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) for rebutting former German defense minister Rainer Eppleman, the latest in a chorus of international observers who suggested that Taiwan should cancel its UN referendums.

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As an Australian who is living in Taiwan and who has previously lived in China for three years, I wish to reply to Hayley Swinamer's letter entitled "A Beautiful Country" (Letters, Jan. 18, page 8).

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