Please forgive me for jumping all over you regarding incorrect headlines ("Government's ability to govern hobbled by debt," Aug. 27, page 8).
In his commentary, author Chang Che-shen (張哲琛) never said anything about the "ability to govern." He did say "If the belt is not tightened now, it will inevitably result in the government's major policies and measures being crowded out by ... debt."
This is a far less stark assessment than your headline suggests.
For what it's worth, I agree with Chang. Raising the debt ceiling now would be like giving a credit card to a drug addict. Taiwan's politicos have shown alarming tendencies to fall in love with ego-trip expenditures the nation cannot afford or make good use of -- the high-speed train boondoggle being foremost among these.
Keeping the debt ceiling relatively conservative would help prevent these yokels from running amok, and it is definitely the way to go. It has also been clear for at least five years that Taiwan's tax code sorely needs attention. We common folk don't pay enough taxes here, and the time when businesses needed blanket tax holidays and other inducements is long past.
Selective use of such incentives will, no doubt, have beneficial long-term results and should be encouraged. But no more free rides, please. And while we're at it, let's look for new revenue sources, too.
A broad tax base allows the economic flexibility trading nations such as Taiwan can't long survive without.
My espousal of Chang's views puts me more or less in opposition to your overly metaphorical editorial, "Cabinet cooks up economic reform" (Aug. 27).
I agree that we don't need another task force to identify and discuss economic reform measures that should already be underway, but I cannot agree with your blanket condemnation of the Tang Cabinet -- yet. If the same bumbling and fumbling we see today is still going on, say, four months from now, I'll swing over to your way of thinking, but right now it's just so much premature carping.
Colburn Aloysius Carelli
Ching Shui, Taiwan
NUC should be dismantled
If the the job of a democratically elected government is to execute the mandates assigned by its people, then Chen Shui-bian (
Obviously, the NUC was created without the majority consensus of Taiwanese people. Its goal is to seek a progressive and eventual unification with China -- hopefully when China turns itself into a free, democratic and prosperous country -- despite the fact that the majority of people now wish to retain the status quo.
Moreover, it would be irresponsible and unfair for a government to decide the fate of Taiwan's future generation, if "the unification" means it will take place 50 years later.
Some people may argue that the NUC serves as a shield to discourage China's aggression and enhance Taiwan's security. But in effect, it is a naive and and dangerous illusion that Taiwan can avoid a war with China simply by abiding by the guidelines of the NUC.
The NUC, which promotes unification with China, would only paint Taiwan into a corner and squeeze Taiwan's international space.
Tolerance and multiplicity is a must in a real democracy. When it comes to relations with China, people in Taiwan can advocate whatever beliefs they might have.
However, unification is only one of the valid, not exclusive, choices for Taiwanese people. Whatever it may be, it should be decided only by the people of Taiwan.
There is no reason President Chen should bend on accepting the NUC chairmanship. China may protest and regard it provocative, but then what did Taiwan do that China ever likes?
Ji-charng Yang
USA
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