Democracy & Progress: Really, Mr. Ma, It's About The Economy!
Democracy & Progress: Really, Mr. Ma, It's About The Economy!
Democracy & Progress: Really, Mr. Ma, It's About The Economy!
On October 30, the Executive Yuans DirectorateGeneral of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) revised down, for the ninth time, the countrys GDP growth rate. Last August, it was announced that GDP growth would be 4.58%, and this time, it was revised down by 1.05%. DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang said that the current approval ratings for the president and premier have gone down to new lows, which is an actual reflection of the peoples dissatisfaction and their loss of confidence towards the present government. An executive branch that has lost all the peoples confidence is destined to fail, he said. The DPP has been appealing for a long time to this administration to change the cabinet and save the economy in order for the Executive Yuan to have an opportunity for a restart, but President Ma
Ying-jeou insists on keeping the cabinet as is, which is why he must explain to the people the reasoning behind his decision. The DPP has suggested several reform packages to the government, all of which have been opposed by the KMT. After an active investigation conducted by the DPP, it was discovered that Taiwans national savings decrease annually by approximately NT19 billion. This has caused the public to question whether the government is unfairly allocating its resources. There has also been an increase on the negative view by the public towards careered military officials and public servants with the recent controversy surrounding their annual bonuses. This kind of bonus system not only shows an unfairness exerted by the government towards the rest of the public, but it also created an alarming
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negativity towards the military and civil servants. The DPP believes that social fairness is the nations most important value, and the government must ensure that all groups of society are treated equally. In regards to the recent controversy surrounding the bonuses, the DPP has already issued a clear standpoint. Due to a lack of legal backing as well as the lack of fairness in this system, the DPP clearly and strongly advocates its abolishment. The DPP plans to set-up a task force that will review retirement benefits for careered military officials and civil servants. The task force will also review the social welfare system and retirement benefits for all people in society. This group will be comprised of DPP former government officials, political and social experts from the DPPs think tank, and it is to be headed by Lin Wan-yi, the DPPs think tank executive director. Chair Su Tseng-chang hosted a coordination meeting on October 22 about the issue of annual bonuses for retired military and civil servants with Convener Ker Chien-ming, Director-General Pang Meng-an and Secretary-General Tsai Chi-chang from the DPP Legislative Caucus and DPP Spokesperson Lin Chun-hsien, among others. During the meeting, it was agreed that the DPP
OCTOBER 2012 will take active action and issue institutional reforms regarding the annual bonuses with three specific goals in mind. The first one is to ensure that no specific group in the community is targeted as having a negative image. Secondly, the DPP hopes to ensure that no further inequality from the government arises in welfare protection for disadvantaged groups compared with the benefits of military and civil servants. Thirdly, the DPP hopes that no different systems (or different standards) exist under one government. From a legal perspective and from the equal and compassionate points of view, halting and canceling annual bonuses for retired military and civil servants comply fully with reform, Mr. Lin said. It is also reflected in the DPPs latest poll that the public support and approve the DPP initiative. According to Mr. Lin, the DPPs latest polls shows that 79.7% believe the governments annual bonus for retired military and civil servants is unreasonable while only 15.8% believe it is reasonable. Mr. Lin said that for the first goal, the DPP believes in the type of reform that is implemented with serious consideration over social welfare. Only when this reform is being put under the total restructuring of the social welfare system, will this reform be justifiable, he said. Mr. Lin also explained that the DPPs second goal is to ensure that no further discrimination is posed against disadvantaged groups with the aim of providing special protection for them. The retirement plan in Taiwan has been modified over time, and
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there are currently various types of retirement regulations for civil servants. Overall, civil servants with the current retirement plan was modified in 1992 (effective since 1995), but the preferential rate for retired official savings continues to be incredibly high. In the third goal, Mr. Lin said that the DPP hopes to reinforce the regulation of one country with the same standard system, instead of different methods of retirement benefits to be carried out by local governments. At the Central Executive Committee meeting on October 24, DPP Chair Su Tseng-chang emphasized the DPPs resolution to produce a sound economic package that will tackle the current inefficiencies from President Mas Administration.
OCTOBER 2012 Chair Su said President Ma has not been short of issuing slogans about the economy, such as 6-33- and the Golden Ten Years, but they have all failed to produce the desired results, and the public is growing more dissatisfied as reflected in his approval ratings. Faced with the peoples suffering and the countrys difficult situation, the DPP must take action, Chair Su said. We have come up with a compassionate economic package that will focus on four major directions: revitalize industry, empower local finance, enhance family support and help the youth.
Chair Su Tseng-chang: DPP continues to uphold its values concerning cross strait relations
Chair Su Tseng-chang expressed to the media before the partys Monday meeting on October 8 that the DDP has always insisted upon the transparency of any interaction between Taiwan and China. He emphasized that the DDP continues to abide by the principle of maintaining Taiwans sovereignty, firmly asserting the value of freedom, democracy, peace and equality. There might be different opinions within the party, but our values have not changed, Chair Su said. When asked by the media regarding the visit to China by Former Premier and Former DPP Chair Frank Hsieh, he responded that the DDP continues to insist that Taiwan holds an active and confident attitude towards China. By active, he said he meant
that because Taiwan and China are only divided by water, it is inevitable that both sides must interact. He said that in order to resolve the existing differences, there must be plenty of communication and dialogue, and this is not only expected by the majority of the Taiwanese public, but they are also the expectations of the international community. Chair Su also said that on the other hand, confidence is necessary because there are many great differences between Taiwan and China, as Taiwan is a democracy, and it is both open and diverse. As far as what is different in China, he said that China is still under the leadership of one political party and a country without democracy or freedom. Lastly, he asserted, the Taiwan value will definitely become the future trend. PAGE 3
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Mr. Chen, who is a judge, analyzed the exit mechanisms for judges, which he said that it shouldnt be based on public opinion but actual facts and evidence of wrongdoing. He said that otherwise, there would be too much room for political interference. He also stressed the importance of judges and prosecutors to possess the characteristics of honesty, courage and a sense of justice, while admitting that the current training lack the incentives to entitle judge and prosecutors to stand by these characteristics.
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