The economy and standard of living are both important issues in the presidential election campaign. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) is proposing a "happiness economy" while Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rival Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is proposing a "cross-strait common market" and a "633 policy" -- 6 percent economic growth, 3 percent unemployment and 3 percent inflation.

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Heard or read something particularly objectionable about Taiwan? Johnny wants to know: dearjohnny@taipeitimes.com is the place to reach me, with "Dear Johnny" in the subject line. [ FULL STORY ]

By Lee Wen-chung
There have always been many different opinions regarding how cross-strait trade relations should be defined and constructed. Whether one promotes opening up or continued restrictions on cross-strait trade, this has always been a major issue in Taiwan.

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It is the world's fifth poorest country with no prisons and few police. Now this west African failed state has been targeted by Colombian cartels as a drug transit hub
By Grant Ferrett and Ed Vulliamy
The roads outside the X Club nightspot in Bissau, capital of the world's fifth-poorest country, are cracked and pot-holed. They have not been repaired since they were torn up by the tracks of military vehicles during Guinea-Bissau's civil war in the late 1990s. But the cars parked outside -- Porsche and Audi four-wheel drives -- wouldn't look out of place in the wealthiest quarters of London.

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During a press conference Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Alex Fai (費鴻泰) announced that he was ready to commit suicide if KMT presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is not elected after KMT lawmakers intruded on DPP candidate Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) Taipei campaign office.

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I was struck by the scene: a government leader who promoted himself as someone with a squeaky-clean, no corruption image. Now just days after he was caught in corruption and crime and it became public, he has resigned from his office.

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Could someone please remind Ma that he is running for president of a country and he is not a newly appointed chief executive officer? If it were the latter, perhaps I could forgive him for first wanting to "consult experts," "listen to the people," "evaluate" and "listen to the people more" before giving an opinion on anything important.

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Taiwan is a democracy. Yet every time an election is held, there have been lots of reports of vote-buying scandals. It is a shame to Taiwan and all Taiwanese.

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Recently I was watching the Cable News Network and noticed how China "rejected" criticism of its human rights abuses as reported by the US.

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Although I am not a citizen of the Republic of China and can not vote, as a long term resident I regard myself a citizen of the "Environment of Taiwan" in which I have an equal responsibility (to safeguard its health) and an equal stake (that it safeguards my health). I call all those that share this "citizenship," Taiwanese.

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