"Every election is a lesson in civil education." This saying means that the process of an election is a lot more important than its result.
In a democratic society, whoever gets elected will not make too big a difference because of the system of checks and balances. However, the election process gives the people a great lesson in moral education.
If the process can raise the civic consciousness and the moral standards of a society, its political quality will be elevated and the cultural standard upgraded accordingly. From a more pragmatic perspective, the result will make the implementation of policies much easier.
Our candidates still believe in the wicked creed advocated by the Italian statesman Niccolo Machiavelli -- the goal justifies the means. However, what a just society believes should be: the means is the only criterion to evaluate the goal. The rationality of the goal will be questioned if it is achieved in an unjust way.
During the campaign period, Taiwan's police have been cracking down on gangsters. Surprisingly, the endeavor resulted in negotiations between the two sides. What kind of social education is that? Independent candidate James Soong
A country's culture depends on the moral consciousness in its mainstream social values. Taiwan's election does not elevate such elements. On the contrary, candidates encourage the people to lie and cheat. What makes matter even worse is they are even proud of their sophistry. Such elections will only tarnish rather than purify people's minds.
Whoever gets elected will only be in power for a maximum of eight years. However, the election's impact on social values will last forever.
Pu Ta-chung is the chief editor of the China Times.
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