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EDITORIAL: Where’s
the sense of national pride?
With the much-vaunted Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) evidently
failing to deliver on the government’s promise to improve the economy, and with
inflationary concerns on the rise, President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration
has decided to reduce costs. This makes sense, but there is a problem: These
cuts are targeting the key symbols of nationhood.
Nearly four years into Ma’s first term and less than a month before he embarks
on his second, the state of Taiwan’s economy is rather underwhelming —
especially for an administration that never misses an opportunity to accuse its
predecessor of mishandling that very sector. The TAIEX is tumbling, salaries are
stagnant, exports (even to China) are down and GDP growth has been sliced so
often it might as well be salami.
The only thing that has gone up during that period is the cost of living, a
trend that is about to be exacerbated by major hikes in energy prices.
As a responsible government that cares for the welfare of its people, the Ma
administration has announced that the May 20 presidential inauguration
ceremonies will cost no more than NT$6 million (US$200,000), 85 percent less
than the cost of the inauguration in 2008 and 91 percent less than former
president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) inauguration in 2004. Among other things, a
fireworks display and a party will be canceled, leaving pretty much just a
banquet.
That is all well and good, but it hardly explains why, a little more than six
months ago when every economist could already have told us the economy was not
performing too well, the same government was willing to disburse NT$3.3 billion
— or 550 times what it will spend next month — on celebrations for the Republic
of China (ROC) centennial. Or why NT$215 million in taxpayers’ money, 36 times
the cost of the inauguration, was spent on the Dreamers (夢想家) musical about the
Xinhai Revolution and the establishment of the ROC.
Aside from the trimmed-down inauguration, another item that has faced severe
cuts was the annual Han Kuang military exercises. Here again, to conserve money,
the drills were toned down — so much so that no live ammunition was expended in
the five days of exercises.
One wonders if it is purely coincidental that cuts in government spending only
seem to affect the very symbols of nationhood and sovereignty, from national
defense to celebrations of the democratic process, that gave Ma a second term in
office.
Undoubtedly, governments should refrain from splurging when their nation is in
dire financial straits. However, this should not happen at the expense of
national pride. Taiwanese, regardless of whether they voted for Ma on Jan. 14,
have a right to be proud of their democracy, which is what May 20 is all about.
How do ordinary Taiwanese benefit if the celebrations are confined to an
inaccessible banquet at the Grand Hotel?
Nearly 600 dignitaries, from heads of state to various representatives, will
gather on that day to usher Ma into his second term. They, too, should be able
to sense that Taiwan is a proud nation, not one that constantly does everything
in its power to keep a low profile so as not to anger the giant next door.
Taiwanese and everybody else who cherishes democratic ideals deserve fireworks
and a party on May 20, one that is worthy of the occasion.
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