A few days ago, there was a piece of news about a comment made by one of Michael Jackson's former spokesmen. "Just when you think it can't get any worse, Michael Jackson finds a way -- an unprecedentedly creative way -- to make it worse," said Michael Levine, the singer's former public relations manager.
When I read about this vivid portrayal of Jackson, his image flashed through my mind. The comment also made me think of the extent to which the DPP has been politicized. Believe it or not, Jackson and the DPP are very much alike.
Jackson, the King of Pop, was originally a god-like idol and superstar, but he has been going downhill in the last few years. Many cases of psychological studies have demonstrated that narcissists are prone to self-destruction. Jackson is a living example.
The controversies surrounding him have come one after another in recent years. His reputation has suffered further damage with each new controversy. But in retrospect, he, not others, stirred up each one of those new disputes. He was the one who undermined his own reputation.
In recent years, the DPP has condemned other people for undermining Taiwan. In fact, the DPP's case is just like that of Jackson. The DPP, a narcissist with a self-destructive character, has undermined itself. It has constantly looked for problems for people to write about.
The DPP has accused the opposition parties of undermining the country. But anyone with the slightest knowledge of democracy knows that the opposition parties can undermine only the ruling party or the government at most. Only the ruling party can undermine the country. Therefore, the DPP's accusation has neither theoretical ground nor practical existence. It is for deceiving itself and others as well.
Another target of the DPP accusation is the Legislative Yuan. The leaders of minority governments always bear a bitter hatred toward the legislative branch. US presidents such as John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson came from Congress, but they changed their attitude toward Congress once they entered the White House.
As president, Kennedy described the Congress as a "zoo." Congressmen were described by Johnson as "selfish bastards." However, Kennedy and Johnson never used Congress as an excuse to shirk their responsibility. The legislative branch is supposed to be responsible for checking the presidency. If it is not, what else do we need it for?
Many of the events that undermine the country have nothing to do with the opposition parties or the Legislative Yuan. They were all created by the DPP.
The controversy over the construction of an exhibition hall in Nankang Trade Park, for example, epitomizes the DPP's way of asking for trouble. From this case we saw a self-willed official, rough-shod decision-making procedures and the political culture of telling lies and shirking responsibility -- all of which are proof of the DPP undermining itself. In the last three years, cases similar to this one are too numerous to count. When a controversy finally comes to an end, a worse one often follows on its heels.
Like the DPP, Jackson accuses others of starting rumors, some of which are for the purpose revenge or blackmail. In addition, he blames the media for being unfriendly and hostile with the sole purpose of bringing him into ridicule. He has not yet realized that he is the one who undermines himself.
The stories of Michael Jackson and the DPP once again demonstrate that politics is simply show business.
Wang Chien-chuang is president of The Journalist magazine.
Translated by Grace Shaw
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