DPP must stand up
As anyone with any sense knows, economic planning takes years, if not decades, to bear fruit ("Moving to China socially unjust," Dec. 4, page 8). The pan-blue camp likes to place Taiwan's economic problems at the DPP's doorstep. Yet these problems did not begin when President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) took office -- they started long before.
We can't do anything about what China does with its economic planning. Bless them for trying to take care of their people. After all, China has a huge population of very poor people to take care of.
It is the pan-blue politicians who enjoy all Taiwan has to offer yet cater only to China who are intolerable.
The DPP should not take the blue camp's accusations lying down. Taiwan's economic problems are the result of years of neglect and corruption by the KMT regime. Even today, the pan-blue camp's blatant push for "China first" policies continues to hinder Taiwan's economic planning.
When it comes to problems such as non-performing loans, high integration with China, undisciplined government spending, reduced defense spending and the hollowing out of Taiwan's economy, the DPP needs to set the record straight.
But the economic mess is not the fault of the DPP, but rather, is the responsibility of the old KMT.
The DPP has allowed pan-blue politicians to push it around on this issue and has lost confidence in its reform effort. Believing pan-blue accusations that its reform policy was making matters worse, it has not yet pointed out to the people that anyone who puts China first is unable to tolerate "Taiwan first" economics.
The government should tell the people that the true nature of the nation's economic problems lie with its political problems. Both Taiwan's leader and its population need to set a clear goal and direction of where they are going. Further integration with China is exactly the wrong kind of medicine that pan-blue politicians intend to administer to kill off what's left of Taiwan's strength.
Taiwanese are a tolerant and peaceful people. As long as the DPP continues to show its sincerity, its persistence on a Taiwan-first policy, including economics and exercise its wisdom in communication, Taiwanese will be willing to bear the temporary harsh climate and stay with the party all the way.
Chen Ming-chung
Chicago, Illinois
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