The Top Sets the Blaze, the Middle Follow, and the Lowest Only Procrastinate, Ruining Themselves

 The Top Sets the Blaze, the Middle Follow, and the Lowest Only Procrastinate, Ruining Themselves

United Daily News Editorial (Taipei, Taiwan)

March 26, 2019

 Translation of an Excerpt

The Blue and Green parties are currently both mired in the anxiety and stagnation for their 2020 presidential primary nominations. The struggle of the KMT is, on the premise of keeping open Han Kuo-yu’s opportunity to enter the race, how to maintain the dignity of the primary system. What troubles the DPP, however, is how to make a choice between Tsai Ing-wen and Lai Ching-de, while not undermining intraparty solidarity, but also to maintain the greatest prospects of winning next year’s presidential and legislative elections. While the election campaign gradually shifts back to the situation of a "Blue-Green duel," the popularity and reputation of Ko Wen-je, campaigning on the slogan of White Power, apparently has been losing steam, but his determination to enter the race remains quite strong.

The reason why many Blue supporters have pinned high hopes on Han Kuo-yu is principally because he not only created the victory, turning Kaohsiung from Green to Blue in last yearend’s local elections, but also brought this zeal to other cities and counties, turning around the electoral results of the Blue in many cities and counties. He has been deemed the figure having the capacity to set the blaze, turning the tide, and creating momentum. After taking office, Han Kuo-yu has continued to fully develop his enthusiasm, through marketing farm and orchard produce to marketing tourism, making Kaohsiung's visibility extend to overseas and across the Strait. This demonstrates that his capability of action and political zeal has surpassed the stature of a local government chief.

Han Kuo-yu has created a paradigm of a "service-oriented government": local government chiefs work hard for the livelihoods of the grassroots masses, caring especially for the underprivileged farmers, fishermen and shop vendors; this is a redefinition of government functions. What's more, stimulated and encouraged by successfully turning around Kaohsiung, recently quite a number of KMT members have successively decided to jump out of their comfort zones, wanting to challenge the legislative seats in the so-called hardship districts. Thus it could be seen that his enthusiasm has stimulated the confidence and fighting spirit of the Blue; this is something to be cherished.

In the era when capable men rise and contend, one who is fearless of hardships, courageously challenging the countercurrents, has the opportunity to create a situation setting the blaze; of course, only the top have the ambitious capabilities and grand strategy to achieve success. Although some may not be able to spearhead, ambushing the enemy ranks, their insights into the times and turning of the vox populi, coupled with their seizing the opportunity and following the waves, may also win them glory. This is the wisdom of the middle that understands the current situation. However, there are others who don’t care about the turns and changes of the currents of the times, don’t ask what the goal of the vox populi is, all the way insisting on the realization of their own "presidential dreams"; this is the lowest. Such men will only miss the situation of the times, losing the hearts of the people, and ruining themselves.

Lai Ching-te, in an ambush fashion, announced that he would enter the presidential race; he apparently belongs to the type who “have wanted to become president since childhood” putting his grandiose ambitions ahead of “the rise or fall of the party” and “the development of the nation.” His ambivalent shifting of his own identity as a "Taiwan independence worker" as well as his obstinate insistence on pardoning Chen Shui-bian, and his lack of soul-searching on his record as premier have all greatly eroded his charisma. In comparison, out of his pledges to Kaohsiung, Han Kuo-yu has has been reluctant to indicate his attitude, in fact, has conversely showed that he is more a man who has principle and warmth toward the voters.

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