tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post3049722766742677143..comments2023-10-22T18:25:39.688+08:00Comments on The View from Taiwan: The Empire of BaconMichael Turtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-42140543099503289682008-03-31T10:56:00.000+08:002008-03-31T10:56:00.000+08:00kaminoge said "The LDP is also not on record as be...kaminoge said "The LDP is also not on record as being in favor of "uniting" Japan with a neighboring power.".<BR/><BR/>As a Taiwanese, I don't quite understand what he was talking about.<BR/>China is a "neighbor" to Japan, but China and Taiwan "was" one country, currently separated by the civil war. I am not a member of KMT, nor is one of DDP, but, I am in favor of reuniting back into one country. <BR/>(Thank you for allowing me to express my view, Michael.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-8290072068888732272008-01-30T17:09:00.000+08:002008-01-30T17:09:00.000+08:00I think that people all over the world somehow do ...I think that people all over the world somehow do not associate legislatures with the state of the economy, but somehow associate presidents with it. (In fact, neither can do very much to affect the economy.)<BR/><BR/>Let's just consider the great economy under President Clinton in the US which everyone remembers so fondly. Who ruled Congress then?<BR/><BR/>Notice how most people don't link that economic success to the GOP but attach it to Clinton?<BR/><BR/>My argument here is specifically not to say either party should have gotten kudos for the internet boom, but that people somehow want to personalize "the economy" and attach it to presidents.Red Ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10699964464336470134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-28875469494074140962008-01-21T10:06:00.000+08:002008-01-21T10:06:00.000+08:00In the two weddings I've been to in Pingtung, a le...In the two weddings I've been to in Pingtung, a legislator showed up at one and sent a gift to the other.<BR/><BR/>This post was fantastic for its detail and sources. Thanks a bundle for thi sone, Michael.阿牛https://www.blogger.com/profile/08403972286057197709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-83387333542349085902008-01-21T07:08:00.001+08:002008-01-21T07:08:00.001+08:00Anon --I was just there for a field trip for schoo...Anon --<BR/><BR/>I was just there for a field trip for school.Michael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-10072077689316194562008-01-21T07:08:00.000+08:002008-01-21T07:08:00.000+08:00I don't think things are that different in New Jer...<B>I don't think things are that different in New Jersey ...</B><BR/><BR/>You're probably right, especially at the state level. <BR/><BR/>MichaelMichael Turtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17974403961870976346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-49578200767782659612008-01-21T03:53:00.000+08:002008-01-21T03:53:00.000+08:00...You're absolutely right, Michael. You would ha....<BR/>.<BR/>.<BR/>You're absolutely right, Michael. You would have to be brain-dead not not notice the obstructionist (and blatantly undemocratic) policies of the KMT -- especially over the last 4 years. The historical watershed moment for me was the 2004 legislative elections which gave the KMT the green light and would effectively halt the much needed changes Taiwan needed to progress to the next level of democratic rule. <BR/><BR/>This light for freedom, justice and democracy in Taiwan has effectively been snuffed out this month. The majority of Taiwanese are, indeed, more interested in short-term personal gains than to a long-term commitment to real democratic solutions.<BR/><BR/>What boggles my mind is that when I mention that this is the choice the Taiwanese have made, my pan-blue friends still believe that the ideals of democracy and the Taiwanese identity will thrive. They think they can "have their bacon and eat it too".<BR/><BR/>Well, we all know what happens when one eats too much bacon...<BR/><BR/>.<BR/>.<BR/>.skiingkowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05381159852660053893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-29147010093182178612008-01-21T02:21:00.000+08:002008-01-21T02:21:00.000+08:00Do the photos mean that you're seriously checking ...Do the photos mean that you're seriously checking out Kaohsiung as a new home?<BR/><BR/>Interviewing perhaps?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-84651757840542498332008-01-20T23:20:00.000+08:002008-01-20T23:20:00.000+08:00It should be noted that unlike the KMT, the LDP ne...It should be noted that unlike the KMT, the LDP never declared martial law, never carried out a pogrom against certain segments of Japanese society, and never initiated a program of imprisoning, torturing and sometimes executing perceived "enemies" of the state. The LDP is also not on record as being in favor of "uniting" Japan with a neighboring power. <BR/><BR/>Another reason why the LDP has been in power all these years has been the inability of the opposition to provide a coherent alternative to Japanese voters. For decades, the Japan Socialist Party seemed more content with playing the role of spoiler in the Diet than with trying to take back the reigns of power. Now that the Democratic Party of Japan has a majority in the upper house of the Diet, it will be interesting to see if the DPJ can take advantage of the LDP's present difficulties and win a majority in the House of Representative in the next general election there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10698887.post-88874407056341300182008-01-20T19:53:00.000+08:002008-01-20T19:53:00.000+08:00I don't think things are that different in New Jer...I don't think things are that different in New Jersey ...Kerim Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512911085478893020noreply@blogger.com