The DPP Should Be Held Accountable for Generational Justice Becoming Generational Hatred

  The DPP Should Be Held Accountable for Generational Justice Becoming Generational Hatred

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)

April 25, 2017

 Translation of an Except

After the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came back to power, many reforms in the name of "justice" have emerged one by one. There is "transitional justice" and "generation justice." However, the nature of justice under any title has been gradually changed. Among them the chasm between generations has deepened, and "generational justice" has become "generational hatred"; people cannot but be worried. After the DPP has torn and divided communal groups, will generational hatred become a festering wound that is hard to heal in Taiwan's society?

When the Tsai government served the first dish of generational justice, it was annuity reform. The pension system for retired military, public functionaries, and public school teachers has indeed aggravated the financial burden of the government. In contrast with the generally low wages received by the new generation, the pensions seem to be relatively too high. However, the design of the pension system had its historical factors; the government's finances can hardly sustain the burden, or globalization leads to inequitable distribution, but all this should not be construed as "injustice" that the previous generation was deliberately looting the next generation. Nor was it the original sin of retired military, public functionaries, and public school teachers. Unfortunately, in the course of annuities reforms, the Tsai government hoisted high the banner of "erecting a fair and just annuity system," waving its sword to cut the pensions in great strides. This is tantamount to denigrating retired military, public functionaries, and public school teachers who receive pensions to an "unjust generation".

The impact of the DPP's "view of generational justice" also extends to historical views and value system views. As the DPP had completely negated the KMT rule, "de-Sinicization" and "de-Chiang Kai-shek" movement have become fad jargon of the new generation. As a derivative, it has led to a complete negation of the customary historical views and value system views of the "previous generation." As a result, social conflicts are difficult to avoid. Under these circumstances, social conflicts, we are afraid, are unavoidable and Taiwan will be mired in unease. No wonder a Japanese journalist has this caveat: "Taiwan will probably self-disintegrate."

The powers that be must recognize that if the slogan of "generational justice" is correct, then this means that no single generation should be sacrificed, vilified, or despised. The value system views and historical experiences of different generations should be equally respected. If we don’t have even this basic perception, then generational justice, in fact, will be rhetorical references for "generational hatred”!

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