From: hsiang@sbhsiang.cs.sunysb.edu (J. Hsiang)
Subject: Re: Control?! (The Six-Year...)
Organization: State University of New York at Stony Brook
Date: Fri, 17 Apr 1992 15:11:59 GMT

In article <kurnn0INNcmm@pollux.usc.edu> mcyang@pollux.usc.edu (Bien-Chao Yeun) writes:
>In article <1992Apr16.192034.20383@sbcs.sunysb.edu> hsiang@sbhsiang.cs.sunysb.
>edu (J. Hsiang) writes:
>- If TI is your solution, then fine.  To me the solution is a democratic
>- Taiwan. 
>
>If you try to imply that we put TI ahead of democracy, then, I want
>to tell you that you are wrong.
>
>To make a long statement short, I would say that we consider both the
>democracy and the independent state equally important in guaranteeing a 
>long term welfare and security for the people of Taiwan.   We believe
>that both of them can be pursued and achieved at the same time.  In fact,
>due to the special political and diplomatic situation, many of us
>believe that, unless the independent statehood of Taiwan can be
>officially recognized by the constitution, no true democracy can be
>achieved.
>

I'm glad you clarified that.  So we both want democracy for Taiwan
and our difference is simply that I believe democracy can be achieved
in Taiwan independent of the question of TI.  You believe that one can't
be achieved without another. 
So, suppose DPP becomes the majority one day, holds a plebiscite on
the question of TI and doesn't get the majority vote needed, then does
Taiwan have true democracy?


>
>In article <1992Apr16.192034.20383@sbcs.sunysb.edu> hsiang@sbhsiang.cs.sunysb.
>edu (J. Hsiang) writes:
>- I also know a number of TI people personally.  The only one I can be
>- certain of who has solely the welfare of people in mind is Chen Ju.
>- I'm not saying that the others don't.  I'm just saying that it is not
>- entirely clear to me.  It's not so difficult for the opposition party
>- to "live up to their belief".  The true test is to see what they do
>- when they have power.
>
>The above statement is very different from what Mr. Hsiang said in his 
>previous article in which he said that DPP politicians only concern about 
>the current political power.
>

I don't think I said that.  What I said was that the behaviour of DPP
in the NA is consistent with their goal of gaining political power.
Now, there's nothing wrong with that goal.  If one goes into politics
without thinking about gaining enough power to realize his/her idea,
then he/she is better off doing something else.  What disppointed me
was that their behaviour in NA made me feel that they seemed to be putting
the goal of gaining power ahead of people's welfare.

I said many times in the net before that I have a lot of respect to
some DPP leaders such as Hsieh Chang-ting, Yu Ching, etc.  It doesn't
mean that I don't think that they don't have any personal agenda
(once gain, there's nothing wrong with that in politics).  But
Chen Ju struck me as one who concerns nothing but people's welfare.
This, is very unusual, even in DPP.


>In article <1992Apr16.192034.20383@sbcs.sunysb.edu> hsiang@sbhsiang.cs.sunysb.
>edu (J. Hsiang) writes:
>- Sigh, does one HAVE to choose side?  Does the world have to be so binary?
>
>In the issue of TI, you have three choices, "Yes", "No" or "Don't care".
>Yes, you still have to take side.

Fine.  Under current situation, no.  If China gives Taiwan an ultimatum,
then yes.  Without an immediate external threat of existence, as it is the
case now, I think Taiwanese people have better and more constructive things
to do.


Xref: sparky soc.culture.taiwan:7333 soc.culture.china:12761