tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3444895069543408811.post1238083595294927783..comments2023-10-06T18:55:46.317+08:00Comments on That's Impossible! Politics from Taiwan: 阿牛http://www.blogger.com/profile/08403972286057197709noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3444895069543408811.post-82616529019891658882009-06-15T21:24:01.300+08:002009-06-15T21:24:01.300+08:00Yeah, actually I would like to add to what FOARP i...Yeah, actually I would like to add to what FOARP is saying. I do believe the cross-strait issues to be of the high importance, because it's fundamental. However, there are many issues in Taiwan prior to 2008, and the cross-strait issues have just shadowed these issues. Some of the issues I'm particularly interested in are education, equality, and minority rights. I want to know the success of the Mother Tongue programs and how that detracts from other subjects, how Taiwan's high schools compare internationally, etc.Formosan at Hearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06797661183143211860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3444895069543408811.post-63397861591448509762009-06-04T10:26:11.356+08:002009-06-04T10:26:11.356+08:00FOARP,
I certainly agree there are other issues t...FOARP,<br /><br />I certainly agree there are other issues that need addressing, but they are either off the political radar (until a street protest) or have no real partisan differences. <br /><br />However, come to think of it, it would be helpful for me to get more information out there on the other issues which sail below the attention threshhold most of the time.阿牛https://www.blogger.com/profile/08403972286057197709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3444895069543408811.post-35302019337869254482009-06-04T03:17:34.169+08:002009-06-04T03:17:34.169+08:00There are plenty of issues which need addressing, ...There are plenty of issues which need addressing, the problem is that so many of them are seen only through the lens of the cross-strait issue. Take minority rights, for example, or immigration, or demographics, or gambling, or the death penalty, or the state owned enterprises, or the unions, health care, education (in what languages?) etc. etc. etc.<br /><br />I found the Taipei Times interview with Ma back in February extremely disappointing. There they with a chance to ask the <b>President of Taiwan</b> (as far as I know) any question they liked, but instead of any variation, they just bashed on about the cross-strait issue.<br /><br />The whole thing reflects a ridiculous level of monomania - yes, the issue is important, but when the main policies of the day are not going to have that much of an impact on them, and when you already know what the answers will be, why waste the entirety of an interview asking about them? Furthermore, even this issue is not quite so contentious as you make out, as at least a plurality of people can agree on the status quo.Gilman Grundyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06607416440240634159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3444895069543408811.post-4618691088151950122009-06-03T10:56:10.290+08:002009-06-03T10:56:10.290+08:00I see the problem resting in that the KMT still op...I see the problem resting in that the KMT still operates as a party-state rather than accepting the norms of a plural democracy. This is further compounded by the fact that the two opposing sides have very different conceptions of what the nation is. <br /><br />The DPP really needs to be able to govern for two terms with a legislative majority before the system can be properly normalised. The problem is this is not going to happen in the near future and Taiwan may be irreversibly in China's grip when and if the DPP return to power severely limiting the DPP's capacity to reform the state.Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13061413827755873948noreply@blogger.com