When does it end?

It's apparent what this world has come to. Under capitalism, we see beggars beside BMWs, M-shape economic make-up: the rich and the poor get intensified and a massively decreasing 'middle-working' class.

Under globalisation, we see food shortages in Africa and people choking on cake-eating competition in the UK, while scientists telling us that we can eat worms in combating the coming years of possible food shortages. The inequality that we live in has been seen as a norm by those in power as an inevitability, by the rich and even the poor.

In the meantime, there's the big corporations making billions and telling us what we lack within ourselves, a lighter hair color, a brighter smile, clothes with big logos so we can really be unique. And we buy them, in hoping that we can gain a bit of confident and self-assurance about our existence.

I, too, am a consumer and observer of the situation, and I'm sure there are plenty like me who are uncertain about how to live in this world with a clear conscience. One of the ways would be to write about it, finding out the truth about it, the numbers to back things up; or just do what one can to lessen the damage: buy less things, donate more, recycle.

However, that does not expel the demon in us: competitiveness. Always more! more! more! While looking over our shoulders to see who's behind and who's ahead. Trying to do the best we can but it doesn't seem enough.

The struggle of want, should, could, would, need, have to, not to will most likely be present, so I guess the question is: How do we cast them away?

The Debate

The Taiwanese presidential election came to a new climax as the final debate ended yesterday evening. The debate, however, was a great disappointment for its pick of question and the candidates' failing to answering the questions accurately.

Questions like, "Do you see aboriginals as Taiwanese?" I mean, what should the candidates answer to that? "No"?? Then there's the PR when answering to each question, bowing to apologize to his former mishap, speaking of his past achievement while being the governor and mayor, everything but answering the actual questions.

After watching it for 15 mins, I was fed up and turned to HBO. Not only the debate was a waste of money, time, it was a great humiliation to the Taiwanese people like a slap in the face, knowing that our two president candidates are incompetent in answering factually to what they plan on doing, where they tend to get the tax money from, how they plan on improving Taiwan's economic funk.

The only positive outcome was the fact that this debate questions were formed by the ordinary joe through the internet, though there should have been a smarter person choosing these questions and not the average joe.

Having a glimpse at the choices of our future president, it comes apparent that the gloom of Taiwan's ambiguity in the political arena may persist in the coming years while the economic sluggishness prevails.

Entertainment News

Recently I've noticed how limited Taiwan's entertainment business is, one can say that it's virtually a drought of the industry. Especially when the news channels steal the limelight of all the 58329231 channels available.

The news channels in Taiwan report on more than political, economic or social issues. Other than the usual news which the reporters merely transfer what the officials say without questioning, or if they do, they tend to ask victims or the relatives of the deceased of how they feel about the perpetrator. The position of reporters tend to be redundant in this matter.

Besides the verbal explanation, the most entertaining part has to be the animation and graphic designing of the news. This technique was first imported from a Hong Kong gossip daily - Apple Daily, in 2003. As a result, descriptive animated sequence of murder or rape cases supplements the report at large in most news channels.

After all the sex and violence were shown, came the food and leisure, which couldn't be anymore natural considering what we are build for. And frankly, these leisure reporters are the ones who hit the nail on its head. "Where are the produce from?" "How do you prepare?" "How many customers a day?" Then they switch to the customers: "How often do you visit this restaurant?" "What makes you want to come back?" "What do you think of this place?"

If the same questions were asked to the government officials and the people, Taiwan would probably have become one of the more advanced government in Asia. People's mind would have probably advanced to the next sophistication. The government would then be aware of what power and pressure the media can bring to them and make sure the real issues are dealt with. The people would then be aware of what actually happens and be involved in seeing it through.

For all we know this might happen in the distant future, it might not. But what I know now is that the media takes much of the responsibility of what we might become, or not.

President Watch

Like the US, Taiwan is also getting ready for presidential election, which will take place on May 20th. And ever since the landslide result of the legislative election this January, the independent party (DPP) has been eager to gain more popularity amongst the voters. Whereas the national party (KMT) has been cheerfully touring the island with great zeal.

Despite the financial scandals that happened in both parties, the DPP has been acting offensively to the KMT candidate, Mr. Ma Ying Juio, of his loyalty to Taiwan and whether he has a greencard or US residency. In the meantime, the KMT has been acting defensively, in wait-till-there's-proof-then-talk attitude. And none has delivered any constructive speeches of what they will do with Taiwan if they were to be the leader.

Problems like the economy: how to improve Taiwan's competitiveness in the world and explore new possibilities. The government: setting up an independent watchdog for all government officials, including the president to prevent bribery and embezzlement. Then the environment: cutting down emissions per capita, setting up bicycle lanes in the city and car pool rules for long distance traveling. Also, setting up watchdog of the environmental bureau, reinforcing the rules of factories and companies of their waste process and making sure there is no kickbacks or bribery between the officials and the companies.

Other issues like agriculture, relationship with China, human rights, labour rights all need offensive resolutions from both party's candidates. On the contrast, the issue of whether Ma has a US greencard or how long has the DPP candidate walked on his tour seem less than trivial.