As Exploiters, Must the Gov’t Be So Cold & Cruel?

 As Exploiters, Must the Gov’t Be So Cold & Cruel?

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

July 4, 2018

 Translation of an Excerpt

The pension reforms for retired military, civil servants and public school teachers went into effect on July 1^st; when many received letters of disposition or checked their passbooks at an ATM, found that the rate of pension reductions was far greater than the formula announced earlier by the government, and felt perplexed. Among them, the dissatisfaction of veterans was the strongest. Although the related ministries presented various explanations on this matter, as situations differ in each and every individual case, being difficult to explain in one stroke, thus a general explanation is not sufficient to clarify the myriad misgivings. With regard to the errors, emissions, or differences in implementation, the government should not treat the matter cavalierly; it must post specific officials to accept complaints and review by scrutinizing each and every case in order to avoid any lamentable outcome of "homicide by policies."

President Tsai Ing-wen prides herself on being a "reformer." However, after two years of tempests and storms, when the sorrows of victimization and conditions of dire straits of "those being reformed" surfaced one by one, the government's loose and cavalier implementation were exposed to all, the halo of reform loses its shine, what is left, we are afraid, will only be the fact of "exploitation".

The pension reforms for retired military, civil servants and public school teachers came into force on July 1^st currently have already produced several obvious problems which the Tsai government must handle with care and prudence. First, the government originally declared that "the 18% preferential interest rate would be lowered to 9% and would become zero two years later"; however, in letters of disposition received by many, the interest rate became zero on day one. In other words, the government went back on the long-time "principle of legitimate expectations," it even contravened its own policy direction, a sinister operation in fact. The Tsai government must ponder again and again on this matter, not to deceive the public. Second, negligence in administrative operations, miscalculations or gaps have occurred in many people's pensions. The government must establish an exclusive window to assist in resolving the matter. The government cannot misappropriate people’s rights and interests, and take them for granted, while leaving the people to die with hatred at heart. Third, the government has declared that the reforms for retired military, civil servants and public school teachers will save the country NT$1.4 trillion in public funds; where is the saved money, and for what will it be used? Or will it just be squandered by the government? The officials in charge must render a truthful account. The details of which, after so many people have sacrificed a substantial quality of life for the country, cannot be allowed to be glossed over.

The current average salary in Taiwan has retrogressed to the level of 20 years ago. Today, added to the 50% or 60% reduction in pensions for retired military, civil servants and public school teachers, the entire society’s income has retrogressed to the state of 20 years ago; this is the most worrisome of all. In contrast with Tsai Ing-wen’s pronouncement that Taiwan was in the "best state" in 20 years, this in reality is exactly the opposite. Originally, people were welcoming the reforms, but if the consequence is poverty for all, with stagnant consumption, how will Taiwan endure?

Attachment : none