DPP Legislator Lin Wei-chou (林為洲), in announcing that he was leaving the DPP and party politics in general, tells it like it is:
He poked at the political parties’ passion-fanning rhetoric and found that they contained nothing but empty slogans. The parties, fearful that the people might see through their “emperor’s clothes, ” cannot but keep fanning supporters’ passion with divisive rhetoric as if feeding them “rave party pills,” he said.
When a party’s supporters are in “a state of ecstasy,” they don’t reflect on themselves, Lin said, claiming that party leaders use this to try to protect themselves by leading the crowd to attack “the enemy.”
Indeed party leaders, be they “green” or “blue,” have found that their supporters are so naive that they don’t care about policy, governance, credibility or ability, or even corruption, and that they still “follow the leaders” after enjoying a good show of “slogan shouting and illusions,” Lin said.
He said that in Taiwan, since the peaceful transfer of power in 2000, “rave party-pills politics” has driven people into two opposing camps, neither of which care about right and wrong in society and both of which care only about their political positions.
As a result, he added, political parties have become gangs dedicated to gaining power and fulfilling individual ambitions, caring only about the next election while ignoring the suffering of the general populace. “Doing things that will benefit people is not important; what is important is doing things that will benefit political parties. If they are serving only themselves, why should the people remain loyal to them?” Lin asked.
I don’t think you’ll find many people disagreeing with his sentiments there. Given that he’s talking common sense, I confidently predict he won’t be reelected in next years legislative elections.
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It’s funny how in this country it’s often the case that the truth is only spoken in anger or desperation. Your girlfriend only says she loves you when you ditch her, and so on. Too bad these kind of sentiments are not expressed while there is still hope.
the original letter from Lin
http://www.ettoday.com/2006/03/30/301-1923215.htm
It’s sick what legislators in Taiwan pull. Basically all they do is open “service centers” and then use their names as legislators to lean up people to help different supporters. Different variations of “oh god, help me talk to the principle my son is about to flunk high school.”
taipei times seems to be awfully quiet about this, waiting for direction? (so is liverty times, until this moment)
or did i missed something?
It’s up. Remember Taipei Times is usually a little over a day behind. I assume they are afraid of cannabalizing their paper sales, which is interesting in this case, since their largest online market is probably people in the US probably read it at about the time they should online.
That and the China Post is so shitty that there is barely an alternative to the Taipei Times. It is true though Taipei Times didn’t put it on the front page, which they should have done. When he makes his formal announcement, let’s see what the Taipei Times does.
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Lin Wei-chou should be ashamed of himself!
Where the hell does he think he is?!! In Great Britain? Perhaps, Canada?! Take out the freakin’ smelling salt, Lin, and give your head a shake! Your a politician in Taiwan. You know, the country that is at a critical cross-roads that needs to make a tough decision about its very survival. You know, the country that has been a democracy for merely 10 years.
And this thing about Taiwanese politics being “polarized”. Of course it’s polarized. When a country is at a critical juncture in its history, your damn tootin’ it’s going to be polarized. You’ve got one party that wants to be annexed and another that wants to maintain it’s autonomy. Hmm…why is there polarization?! Duh!
I’m sick of this “sick of Taiwanese politics”. I’ve got news for you. Democracies ain’t pretty — especially young ones. And especially young ones that are between a rock and a hard place.
I’ve got news for Lin Wei-chou. Walking away from it isn’t going to make it better.
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Lin’s accusation on MYJ’s position on Taitung election seems to be a fair one.
MYJ has been doing (and saying) a lot of right things. But he still couldn’t escape the party trap.
sun bin – I have to agree: Ma has gone from being ‘Mr. Clean’ to ‘Mr. Clean by KMT standards’! It’s a pity: he (and the KMT) are both in strong enough positions that they don’t have to suck up to (the more obviously) corrupt politicians.