Blues Vote for a Government, Greens Vote for a Nation

Blues Vote for a Government, Greens Vote for a Nation
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
December 1, 2010

Academia Sinica political scientist Hu Fo said that during elections on Taiwan, the Green Camp votes for a nation, while the Blue Camp votes for a government. That is why the nation remains trapped in a democratic and constitutional dilemma.

Hu hit the nail on the head. In a normal nation, voters share a common national identity. The opposition is a loyal opposition. If elections lead to changes in the ruling party, the government changes hands, but citizens do not question their national identity. As Hu Fo put it, elections are supposed to be about choosing a government. But on Taiwan, ever since the DPP's rise amidst the Taiwan independence movement, it has conflated "democratization" with "ethnic revolution." It has trumpeted a "new and independent nation" in its attempt to appeal to voters. With the change in ruling parties in 2000, it assumed power over the Republic of China. The Chen regime made political hay out of the "rectification of names" and the "referendum to join the UN." Today, during DPP mass rallies, one sees only "Nation of Taiwan" flags fluttering in the wind. One never sees ROC flags. As Hu Fo noted, for the Green Camp, elections are all about choosing one's nation.

The Blue Camp votes for a government. The Green Camp votes for a nation. During elections, the Green Camp uses the Republic of China playing field to play its "Nation of Taiwan" ball game. During elections the Blue Camp defends the Republic of China. Given the two camps' fundamental differences, it is little wonder our political system is in trouble.

The Taiwan independence movement cites several reasons for its repudiation of the Republic of China. First, it argues that beginning with the 2/28 Incident, martial law and authoritarian rule deprived Taiwan of democracy. Secondly, it argues that the Republic of China is incapable of resisting CCP threats to Taiwan. Thirdly, it argues that the Republic of China is not recognized internationally, therefore this undermines our dignity. In fact, these three reasons are very different in nature. The first, the imposition of martial law and the lack of full democracy, were long ago resolved. Even the DPP, which advocates Taiwan independence, has already ruled for eight years. What better proof that the Republic of China is a democratic nation? The second and third concern national strategy and national policy. The Republic of China must survive amidst coopetition between the Mainland and Taiwan. Can champions of the Republic of China better allay Beijing's concerns about Taiwan than the Taiwan independence movement? Can they better overcome international isolation? Which camp's approach is more feasible? In fact this is a question that can be easily answered by rational analysis and empirical evidence.

The fact is, the Taiwan independence movement has never been endorsed by a democratic majority on Taiwan. If it had, support for the DPP would not have collapsed after it promoted Taiwan independence for eight years. Moreover, the international situation has undergone dramatic change over the past 60 years. Taiwan independence is incapable of resolving the threat posed by Beijing. It is incapable of breaking Taipei out of its international isolation, All Taiwan independence can do is paint Taipei into a corner. Leave aside the shadow of war. Taiwan independence is hardly conducive to economic survival. This has been confirmed by the experience of the past two decades.

Taiwan independence has had a highly detrimental effect on Taiwan. It has distorted constitutional democracy, worsened cross-Strait relations, and damaged its economic vitality. But the most serious problem is that Taiwan independence has become a scourge of civilization. It has destroyed morality, and inverted right and wrong. Taiwan independence ideology argues that, "Taiwan independence is the supreme moral goal. Therefore it trumps the Republic of China, trumps the constitution, trumps the justice system, trumps all standards of morality and all concepts of right or wrong. Since one has already trumped the Republic of China, what else cannot be trumped? As long as one is opposing the Republic of China, one need no longer concern oneself with morality. Therefore, big issues such as Chen Shui-bian's corruption and his 3/19 Shooting Hoax, smaller issues such as Chen Chu's press conference on the per diem matter, Chen Chih-chung's solicitation of prostitutes, Su Chia-chuan's plagiarism, the controversy over water spinach, over Cheng Hung-yi's shouting of obscenities, are all considered legitimate, all considered moral. The winning formula is simple. Founding a "Nation of Taiwan" is our most transcendent moral vision. Therefore as long as we support a Nation of Taiwan, then we are liberated from all moral constraints. The net result? Although founding a Nation of Taiwan has become a political chimera, the demise of morality and the inversion of right and wrong have become a social reality.

The result of this morally fraudulent reasoning, is that DPP members refer to themselves as "Taiwanese." Whosoever does not support Taiwan independence is not "Taiwanese." "Love for Taiwan" has become the DPP's exclusive franchise. Whosoever does not support Taiwan independence "does not love Taiwan." Whosoever advocates Taiwan independence is, ipso facto, a champion of democracy. Whosoever opposes Taiwan independence is, ipso facto, an enemy of democracy. Whosoever advocates Taiwan independence is a paragon of virtue. Whosoever opposes Taiwan independence is the embodiment of evil.

This Taiwan independence rhetoric may once have had a leg to stand on, during the martial law era, when the Mainland maintained a Closed Door Policy, and the Cold War was still on. But times have changed. It is now 2010. The situation has changed, internationally, on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and on Taiwan. If Taiwan independence was ever a viable national strategy, it is no longer. Instead, it has become a political weapon that has divided the nation and destroyed morality. It is neither feasible nor moral. How can it continue to monopolize the "Taiwanese" label, and claim that it alone "loves Taiwan?"

During the recent five cities elections, the DPP avoided all mention of national identity and cross-Strait policy. The KMT, meanwhile,has never had the guts to point out the moral defects in the Taiwan independence argument. As a result, the DPP has continued making substantial gains in the five cities election, winning support from its "Deep Green biological mother" and from its "swing voter wet nurse." The fundamental problem on Taiwan today is that for most Green Camp members advocacy of Taiwan independence is the epitome of of virtue, and defense of the Republic of China is the essense of evil.

The DPP's reasoning is morally and politically fraudulent. It is detrimental to the survival of the nation. If this fraud is not exposed, Green Camp masses will remain forever trapped. The Republic of China will remain forever trapped in a tragic paradox, in which the Blue Camp votes for a government, and the Green Camp votes for a nation.

The 2012 presidential election is fast approaching. Let us come together and reaffirm out support for the Republic of China, which we all depend upon for our survival. Let us cease and desist from fraudulent attempts to found a entirely separate nation, under the pretext of electing a new government.

藍的選政府 綠的選國家
【聯合報╱社論】 2010.12.01

中研院院士政治學者胡佛曾說：台灣的選舉，綠的在選國家，藍的在選政府，因而陷入民主憲政的困境。

真是一語道破。在正常的民主憲政中，選民的國家認同具有共識，反對黨也是「忠誠的反對黨」；選舉即使發生政黨輪替、政府換手，但國家認同無人質疑。此即胡佛所說，選舉是選政府。但在台灣，民進黨從台獨運動中興起，一直將「民族革命」與「民主工程」混在一起，以標榜建立「新而獨立的國家」訴諸選民；甚至在2000年政黨輪替，贏得中華民國的政權，扁政府仍以「正名制憲」、「入聯公投」玩弄台獨操作。迄至今日，民進黨的群眾集會中，仍是台灣國的旗幟迎風獵獵，見不到一面國旗。因此，如胡佛所說，選舉成了選國家。

藍的選政府，綠的選國家；由於綠營在選舉中借「中華民國」的球場玩「台灣國」的球賽，藍營也在選舉中「捍衛中華民國」。民主憲政當然陷入困境。

台獨是對中華民國的根本否定，主要因由是：一、自二二八事件以來戒嚴時期的威權統治，欠缺民主；二、中共政權對台灣的威脅，中華民國難以抵擋；三、中華民國的國際人格受到打壓，無尊嚴。這三個因由，其實分屬兩個不同層次的問題：其中第一項理由，因解嚴實施完全的民主，已獲解決；連主張台獨的民進黨亦經選舉主政八年，可證中華民國無疑是一民主國家。第二及第三個理由，則是國家戰略及政策層次的問題。台灣必須在與中國大陸的競合關係中生存發展，因而中華民國與台獨在化解大陸威脅及突破國際孤立上，何者較具可行性，其實是一個可以理性分析並求諸實證的問題。

目前的情勢卻是，台獨一直無法取得台灣民主體制的多數民意認同，否則民進黨不會主政八年因操作台獨而垮台；再者，六十年來國際情勢丕變，台獨非但不可能化解大陸的威脅及突破國際孤立，反而勢必將台灣逼上絕路。姑且不談戰爭的陰影，台獨亦絕非一條經濟活路，此已由近二十年來的經驗證實。

台獨對台灣的影響，非但在扭曲民主憲政、惡化兩岸關係，及傷害台灣經濟生機；最嚴重的問題在於已經成為毀滅道德及顛倒是非的文明禍害。其運作動線是：台獨是至高無上的道德目標→否認中華民國→否認憲法體制→否認法院審判→否認一切道德標準及是非理念。總而言之，既已否認中華民國，則還有什麼不可否認？只要是對抗中華民國，一切就可操作成不問道德。於是，大到陳水扁貪腐、三一九槍擊案……；小到陳菊走路工記者會、陳致中召妓、蘇嘉全抄論文、空心菜事件、鄭弘儀爆粗口……，皆為正當，皆為道德。操作的訣竅是：台灣國是一個最高的道德想像，只要支持台灣國，即不受任何道德約制。影響所及，雖然台灣國已成假議題，但道德崩潰與是非顛倒卻成了社會真實。

由於這種道德騙局，民進黨將自己說成「台灣人」，不支持台獨者就不是「台灣人」；「愛台灣」也成了民進黨的專利，不支持台獨者就是「不愛台灣」。主張台獨就是民主，甚至可因台獨而反民主；主張台獨就是道德，甚至可因台獨而反道德。

這一套台獨論述，在過去容或有其立足空間（戒嚴統治，大陸鎖國，國際冷戰等因素）；但是，時移勢變至2010年，國際、兩岸及台灣內部的情勢丕變，台獨已非可行的國家戰略與政策，反而成為撕裂國家、毀滅道德的政治凶器，既無可行性又無道德性，如何能再壟斷「台灣人」的標籤，霸佔「愛台灣」的專利？

在此次五都選舉中，民進黨完全迴避國家定位及兩岸政策的議題；而國民黨也從來沒有膽識將台獨的可行性及道德性討論清楚。因而，民進黨在「深綠親娘」及「中間選民奶媽」的共育下，仍在五都選舉中大有斬獲。台灣現今的根本問題是：綠營的主體群眾認為，台獨是道德的象徵，中華民國則是不道德的代表。

這是一個道德騙局、民主騙局，更是國家生存戰略的騙局。若不能破解這個騙局，將綠營主體群眾救出這個陷阱，台灣的民主政治將永遠困於「你選政府／他選國家」的悲慘弔詭之中。

2012年總統大選，讓我們共同接納這個苦難但賴以相依為命的中華民國；不要再假借以選一個政府為名，實際上卻暗示要另外創建一個國家，且此種暗示根本是一騙局。