tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29099853.post3699658501887318279..comments2023-10-26T22:53:59.503+08:00Comments on The Far-Eastern Sweet Potato: Musings on a day offJ. Michael Cole 寇謐將http://www.blogger.com/profile/12125612369359079447noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29099853.post-56357690173167489732009-06-27T12:02:02.012+08:002009-06-27T12:02:02.012+08:00My own opinion on this is that much of the reason ...My own opinion on this is that much of the reason Taiwanese choose to remain oblivious about the tell-tale signs of KMT reactionary activity and the continuing China menace is that the matter is tied to prosperity.<br /><br />When times are good, the incentive is less to push for something better. And most people never know what they lose until they really lose it.<br /><br />Take China, for example. Why is that venal regime still in power? Because the middle classes and the working masses are experiencing comforts that they have never known, and those comforts appear to be increasing every day. <br /><br />Why are Chinese officials so adamant about telling everyone that they are having a V-shaped recovery (which is actually funded on bank lending which supports fixed-asset investment rather than on a more durable type of growth that can improve livelihoods in the long run)? It is a confidence game. The masses must believe that things will keep getting better.<br /><br />Under Ma, the Taiwanese masses see a certain degree of stability still. The recession has been safely brushed onto the shoulders of the DPP, and the KMT is pushing the prospect of better times when the economy recovers. The Taiwanese have turned that page. Unless a structural problem emerges -- such as the possible decline of the Chinese market in about 10 years due to the emergence of higher costs, an aging workforce, a runaway demographic aging process, and increased water shortages -- Taiwanese will still feel pressure to tie their star to China and not rock the boat. And the Chinese masses will maintain their alliance with the CCP.<br /><br />A talk with my Chinese teacher the other day gave me food for thought. He is about 60, and has vivid memories of the Cultural Revolution and many of the nastier aspects of the last half century. He also has decent knowledge of Chinese politics (but not Taiwanese).<br /><br />He seemed genuinely worried that some sort of crisis would emerge during the reign of the next generation of Chinese leaders. His reasons for concern deal with the lack of loyalty that many feel towards these relatively unknown hand-picked guys as well as their inexperience. This, combined with what he sees as ever-increasing pressures in China could force some kind of change, whether good or bad.<br /><br />Hu and Wen are all about stability, and they have the ability to maintain it for now. Ma taps into this somewhat. The masses under all of them are happy to buy in as well. <br /><br />But can we project this stability onto the next 20 years? Many panda-huggers in Washington, and in the O administration, would like to think so.<br /><br />I think that the next 20 years could get interesting. I just hope Taiwan doesn't sink in the process. Too bad Ma seems intent on poking a hole in the boat.Tommyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13552370490869601403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29099853.post-16872322154262746832009-06-27T02:48:48.251+08:002009-06-27T02:48:48.251+08:00I think most people remain blissfully ignorant of ...I think most people remain blissfully ignorant of the political chaos going on around them. While the holocaust was going on many Germans remained clueless, at least partly by choice.<br /><br />However, one cannot assume that just because people are walking around having a good time and not obsessing over politics that they are not willing to fight and die for democracy. My wife had to learn how to fire a rifle in high school as did all her classmates. <br /><br />She would be more than willing to stand on the shore with a weapon to protect those she loves should the worst thing happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29099853.post-64728510884949006402009-06-27T02:35:25.294+08:002009-06-27T02:35:25.294+08:00Thanks.Thanks.Taiwan Echohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17018124148446093746noreply@blogger.com