Wake up Ma Ying-jeou!

I blogged about the irrationality of color politics in Taiwan, and that Ma Ying-jeou made serious mistake for his party and his people recently.

Today Lin Cho-shui (via View from Taiwan) echoed my view.

• The amendment is poles apart from the US' approach to providing retired presidents with preferential treatment, due to the nasty partisan politics behind it. The US' presidential retirement package is derived from an era in which presidents were expected to show self-restraint and be upstanding.

  Many retired presidents had to become lawyers or judges after their terms in order to avoid destitution -- an embarrassing phenomenon for the nation.

  For example, presiding over cases litigated by an attorney who was once the country's president was a sticky situation for judges. Former presidents becoming chairmen of companies also proved to be problematic.

  So, the US established a system that allowed former presidents to live out their remaining years in relative comfort and safety.

... and most importantly, to discourage corruption! I feel bad for Chen Shuibian, whose pension would end in 8 years. How can you blame his wife for planning for the future? But then the alleged crimes precede this amendment, so maybe I should take back my sympathetic tone.

Wake up Ma Ying-Jeou, the secret to success is by heeding the cirticism your opponent place on you. Let reason, not part politics, determine your action.

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• taiwan
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