The scenes on the floor of the legislature on Tuesday were revolting. Lawmakers shoving, pulling, fighting or just shouting made it appears as if the legislative floor was the site of an open-call audition for Kung Fu Hustle II.
Poor Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng's (
It was fortunate too that so far this session the legislators were able to confine themselves to just throwing cups and boxed lunches and shredding reports, and were not tempted to hurl a few chairs. It does lead one to wonder, however, whether the lawmakers need a regularly scheduled playtime -- just like nursery-school and kindergarten students -- so that they will be able to focus on their work when they are at their desks and serve the people whose votes put them in the legislature in the first place by actually deliberating on bills.
Witnessing Tuesday's chaos, it would seem that the lawmakers believe that democracy in Taiwan is "by the legislators, for the legislators" rather than "by the people, for the people." Pity the poor voters who thought they were actually achieving something when they cast their ballot. Pity as well the average Taiwanese who yearns to see the country gain more international recognition. Taiwan lost its latest bid for a UN seat on Tuesday -- but the lawmakers' antics ensured Taiwan's presence in news reports around the world.
Opposition lawmakers grew red in the face as they shouted at the top of their lungs about their dissatisfaction with the government's performance. It is their duty to monitor the government and chastise it if they feel it is not living up to their constituents' expectations. It is not their duty or their right, however, to turn the legislative floor into a wrestling ring. It is neither their right nor their duty to act like self-absorbed buffoons whose only expertise lies in knowing how to squander taxpayers' money. Their duty is to allow the premier to deliver his report on the government's performance -- and then criticize both if they feel it is necessary.
The administration's recent performance, without a doubt, has been disappointing when one considers events such as the Aug. 21 riot by Thai laborers in Kaohsiung and the Taoyuan water missteps. But instead of providing just criticism and suggestions, the opposition could only offer petulant tantrums. Judging by the performance of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers on Tuesday, the party -- under the leadership of Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (
Legislators, regardless of party affiliation, should not place partisanship and self-interest above the well being of the people and the nation. Perhaps if lawmakers spent more time actually listening to their constituents and less time slavishly toeing the party line, more would actually get done in the legislature.
Taiwan's lawmakers present a poor picture when compared to their colleagues in other countries. In response to Hurricane Katrina, it took the US Senate less than a week to approve an US$10.5 billion emergency relief budget. In the Legislative Yuan's last session, just 46 bills were passed. One has to wonder what we are paying these 225 lawmakers for, since they do not seem to think it is for reviewing and passing legislation.
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