Is the DPP the ruling party?

The Taipei Times reports on the record-low number of bills passed by Taiwan's hopeless legislature:

Public anticipations were high when Hsieh took office last February, with many people hoping that his "reconciliation and co-existence" policy would ease political tension and usher in rapprochement with the opposition.

However, since the beginning of the sixth legislative term last February, a record low number of bills and government initiatives were passed in the first session and only 86 cleared the legislature during the recently concluded second session.

This record-low number of bills simply points out that when pan-Blues clamor for a more conciliatory posture from the DPP, they mean that they want the DPP to shut up while they reward their cronies. Hsieh's policy of rapprochment is a failure, because the pro-China parties do not operate in good faith. The death-blow to this policy was signaled by the new budget:

In addition, this year's government budget proposal suffered the biggest cut in a decade at the hands of pan-blue lawmakers, and a large portion was frozen.

Taiwan's government was never meant to be operated as a democracy, and the checks and balances that govern democracy elsewhere are minimal or else ignored, as with the new pension rules:

The legislature resolved on Jan. 12 that a revised pension program for civil servants, teachers and military personnel must be postponed until the legislature gave it the go-ahead.

Minister of Civil Service Chu Wu-hsien (朱武獻) has said that the new pension rules will go into effect on Feb. 16 as scheduled, despite the legislative resolution and threats made against him.

Neither side can impose its will on the other. Is the DPP really the ruling party? New terminology is urgently needed, poli sci guys.

[Taiwan] [DPP] [KMT]