Republicans' bad record
In his letter, Stephen Crane (Letter, April 9, page 8) boasts of the impressive historical record on civil rights issues that the Republican party has chalked up in the US. His letter should be a sobering reminder of the relative unimportance of past political records in contrast with current ones.
Today, social security is under attack, putting elderly citizens at risk, and innocent people are held indefinitely in jail and tortured without legal recourse. These are just two recent Republican civil rights innovations.
Matthew Paterson
Tainan
Get China off UN Council
Instead of discussing whether to add Japan as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, the world body should be considering removing China as a permanent member. According to the standard established by the Chinese prime minister himself, "Only a country that respects history, takes responsibility for history and wins over the trust of peoples in Asia and the world at large can take greater responsibilities in the international community." In an effort to block Japan's bid to UN Security Council, China is in no position to teach the world how to respect history when it routinely writes distorted textbooks and practices censorship.
Not long ago, China almost held the world hostage when it hid the truth about the SARS epidemic in China. Canada, one of the most victimized countries, should uphold the standard set by Prime Minster Wen and speak out for the removal of China as a permanent member of the council.
Furthermore, Canada should also demand the inclusion of the horrific SARS-truth-hiding story in the Chinese textbooks for generations to come.
Charlie Wu
Canada
Politicians should grow up
I thought the job of elected officials were to help the people of Taiwan build a better country. The various parties seem to be battling each other like a bunch of young schoolchildren instead of doing the job they were elected for.
I think its time for the public to -- as John Wayne would say -- kick butt and take names and demand that the infighting quit and the task of making Taiwan stronger be done.
We Americans do not know if we should laugh or cry at the stupid games that are being played. If you want American and world support, wouldn't a more coherent and organized effort show that Taiwan deserves support?
Michael McKenzie
Lebanon, Missouri
ATM limits in the UK
You say in the last paragraph of your front page article on `ATM transactions' that limiting transfers per day per account holder has long been practiced in the US and UK and thus the CIB had decided to follow suit ("Government hedges on plan to restrict ATM transactions," April 14, page 1).
I don't know what happens in the US but in the UK, ATMs are only used for obtaining cash, an account balance and, in some banks, a statement of your account, but you cannot use an ATM for transfers. It simply is not possible on a UK ATM. There are limits on daily cash withdrawals equivalent to NT$30,000 approximately. Large bills are paid with a cheque, although in department stores or other shopping outlets you can also use your bank card which is used just like a credit card. The only limit is the amount you have in the bank.
Very large amounts are, of course, subject to fairly careful checks of your ID.
Patrick O'Sullivan
Tainan City
Improve your city
Well put, Michael Jacques (Letters, April 14, page 8). I also live in Taichung and wonder why people here choose to live in a third-world environment. It doesn't have to be this way.
Money is not the problem. Recently, the red lines were repainted on our street. Within 10 minutes there was a car parked on every one although there are three parking lots within a 100m radius. How much is the city spending to paint these markings that have no meaning?
Every afternoon when I walk to pick up my daughter from school, there is work for at least eight towtrucks at the intersection nearest our home. Yes, double-parking on crosswalks is the norm rather than the exception here. Why pay for parking when the crosswalks are free? Now, if each car owner were fined NT$2000 for parking illegally, the city could clean up in no time.
This is not just another foreigner's rant. Indeed, foreigners can be the worst offenders in terms of driving and parking habits, simply because they can get away with it. People are too polite to say anything and the police can't be bothered with the language difficulties.
Often when I see a scooter zooming through a children's playground or a taxi tearing around pedestrians on a crosswalk I ask a local what they think. Invariably the response is along the lines of "well, I don't like it, but what can you do?" I would urge all the people of Taichung, for the sake of your children, to stop being so polite and tolerant about an intolerable situation. You can change your city for the better.
Sarah Dettwiler
Taichung
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