Helpful comments
Dear Johnny,
I don't know whether to feel sad or to laugh as I don't know what sort of journalist you are. Let me explain.
I feel sad that the DPP under Chen Shui Pian [Johnny asks: Is this meant to be a pun?] has proven to be typical of Third World politics whereby the party and its leaders cannot be trusted to govern for the good of its people. The mistake made by the Taiwanese people was to elect Chen for two terms. They should have kicked him out after four years.
Is it any wonder that the Western media are outright critical (and also happy) with the big loss by the DPP in the recent elections? They see corruption so entrenched from top to bottom in the DPP. It is sad that the DPP cannot understand why they were thrashed in the elections.
I watched all sorts of media in Brisbane via satellite TV and also have good friends living in Taipei. Just compare the difference with Singapore and Hong Kong. While Taiwan suffers from economic stagnation, the people in Singapore and Hong Kong are enjoying robust economic growth and a higher standard of living.
Why? Because they are fortunate to have honest political leaders that govern for the good of the people and have improved the quality of life.
I can go on and on but you know the gist of my letter. I hope that the Taiwanese people will follow through and get rid of the DPP from the presidency on March 22.
It is better for Ma Ying-jeou to be elected as the next president to enable the KMT to govern effectively for the good of Taiwan.
If the KMT cannot do the job, then you can kick them out four years later. This is what effective democracy is all about. No tears for the inefficient and corrupt president, but make a decision for the good of the country. If the Taiwanese decide to elect another DPP president in March, then I say that you deserve what you vote for.
Here in Australia, we recently elected a Labour [sic] government and prime minister, although the previous Conservative Party [sic] had done a great job managing and uplifting the economy. The people felt that it was time for a change and it just happened without any pain or fury.
If the Taiwanese people can achieve 25 percent of what the Australians have done, then it would be a great start. Journalists like you should take more responsibility and urge your fellow Taiwanese to simply kick out the DPP for the good of Taiwan. Like rotten eggs, they should be thrown into the rubbish bin.
Hope my comments are helpful.
David Lee
Boondall, Australia
Johnny replies: If my readers haven't already suspected it, it seems the DPP is in diabolical trouble. Its fortunes have sunk so low that it has now lost the coveted pompous-children-of-expat-Australian-Chinese vote.
David, my friend, don't expect me to buy you a beer if you haven't got the intelligence to understand that corruption is everywhere in this country, and no more so than among the very people you admire.
So try visiting Taiwan. Meet some captains of industry. Read some history books. Travel the countryside and ask people why they vote for who they do. Then you might understand why Hong Kong and Singapore are irrelevant to Taiwan as far as politics is concerned, and also why Taiwan has nothing to be ashamed of under Chen Shui-bian, regardless of his regular forays into stupidity and tactical ineptitude.
Hope my comments are helpful.
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