No More Joyless Cabinet Reshuffles

No More Joyless Cabinet Reshuffles
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
January 25, 2011

The Democratic Progressive Party, amidst a war of words, approved new procedures for its presidential and legislative nominations. They have already begun beating the drum for these two elections. The KMT meanwhile, continues to argue whether Wang Jing-pyng qualifies for "without portfolio" status. Nor has any solution has been found to the problem of party leaders who refuse to step up to the firing line. Premier Wu must reshuffle the cabinet. Under the circumstances, can he come up with an inspired arrangement?
We see little reason for optimism. Premier Wu Den-yih has mentioned reshuffling several times recently. Each time he conveyed a sense of pessimism. He displayed no signs of courage or ambition. When he spoke of the Ministry of Finance, he indicated that he was completely satisfied, and said the minister was doing a good job. "Wouldn't it be a contradiction to make changes?" When he spoke of civil service salary increases, he enigmatically said that would be the responsibility of "the next premier." Was that a declaration that any cabinet reshuffle would be minor? Was he himself awaiting a new appointment? Were his thoughts already elsewhere?

The Ma administration's approach to cabinet reshuffles over the past two years has been "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." For the most part, it has been passive, and engaged merely in fine-tuning. On the surface, one could say it was attempting to maintain administrative "stability" and "consistency." But the public has been dissatisfied with its policies. The ruling party has lost ground during recent elections. Cabinet appointments have placed too much emphasis on not making waves. The administration's response to public expectations has been slow and weak. Take the current reshuffling for example. Yang Chi-liang and Wang Yu-ting resigned. Kao Shi-po chose to run for the legislature. This leaves openings that must be filled. Premier Wu may not want to stir up the waters. He may be satisfied with the performance of his cabinet members. But 40% of the public is not. Has he thought about how to mollify them?

Last year the economy grew ten percent. Unemployment fell to five percent. The Ma administration has done well indeed. The results show. But the gap between rich and poor has also increased. Most people feel no joy from the economic recovery. The current wave of growth has been referred to as a "joyless recovery." The lack of joy is tricky. The government can say it is working hard. The numbers may look good. But most people do not feel good. So what are you going to believe? The numbers? Or your gut feeling?

The worst kind of cabinet reshuffle is this absent-minded sort of cabinet reshuffle. The government solemnly announces a reshuffle. But the vast majority of people see nothing happening of any significance. Two weeks ago, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan initiated a cabinet reshuffle. Public support increased, slightly. But 70% of all respondents still said they expected nothing worthwhile from the new cabinet. This shows the Japanese people are burned out on politics. If Premier Wu insists on clinging to an "I'm alright, Jack!" attitude, the new cabinet reshuffle is bound to become another round of "joyless reshuffling." It will merely invite public antipathy. The ruling party will miss a golden opportunity to boost the party's morale and improve its public image.

Frankly, those in power are often reluctant to reshuffle the cabinet, change its personnel, and eliminating the inferior. Why? Because they see members of the government as fellow team members. They do not see the machinery of government as a tool to serve the people. That is why they allow the unfit to hide among them. For example, the Minister of Finance has repeatedly been criticized by the public. Yet he continues to cling to his position. And thanks to the current economic recovery, he has even become a "fiscal genius." Another example is the GIO Chief, who was purportedly an expert on ECFA. But he seldom spoke out, and the time for him to explain ECFA is long over. Another example is the array of government officials who have no practical value. Is there really no need to reassign them? Are there really no better qualified candidates among the public?

When Chen Shui-bian was in power, the premier and his cabinet members were pawns on his chessboard. They could be sacrificed at any moment. This reflected the selfish behavior of a political manipulator. By contrast, President Ma has arrayed an army of appointees out on the chessboard, and not moved them for an eternity. The public has blasted them, but Ma refuses to budge, even an inch. He has been too hesitant. A leader must know when to hold, and know when to fold. He has lost the initiative a leader requires. Consider the recent reorganization of the Kuomintang. It resulted in a new formation, and resolved tensions within the party. The new team may not hit the ground running. But at least its immediate response is appropriate. The legislative and presidential elections will be tough battles. The nation needs innovative social initiatives. More importantly, Ma Ying-jeou's main strategy should be to reorganize his administration. He must aggressively reshuffle his cabinet. He must raise morale within the government. Only then can he win the hearts and minds of the people.

It is the custom to clean house every New Year. Premier Wu must clean house as well. He must clean up the mess in his cabinet. He must not tell us that good people are hard to find. He wields great power. It is his job to help the public find the right people, and not just fill seats. The 2012 showdown is imminent. Do not initiate another "joyless reshuffling." Do not go through the motions.

內閣不能再作「無感改組」
【聯合報╱社論】 2011.01.25

民進黨在舌戰中通過新的總統和立委提名辦法，兩場大選的戰鼓已然擂動。反觀國民黨，不僅仍卡在王金平不分區資格的障礙中，且黨內菁英怯戰的問題依然無解。在此之際，吳揆即將對內閣人事作出調整，他能拿出什麼樣振奮人心的安排？

目前看來，似嗅不出樂觀的跡象。行政院長吳敦義近日幾度談到改組，言談間都傳達出消極的訊息，看不出一展雄心的企圖。談到財經部會，他露出對現狀相當滿意的神情，說財經表現很好，「要換首長不是很矛盾」？談到公務員加薪問題時，他莫測高深地說，那是「下任院長」的事。這難道是在宣告：內閣僅會進行微幅改組？或者他自己也在等待新的角色召喚，已經心不在焉？

馬政府兩年多來內閣異動，多半在這類「多一事不如少一事」的心態下進行，多屬被動或微調。表面上，這可說是意在維持行政決策的「穩定」和「一貫」；但相對於民眾對施政的不滿，乃致執政黨幾次選舉的節節敗退，內閣人事過度「偏安」，不能不說是對民意期待的反應遲鈍與疲弱。以這次改組為例，若非楊志良、王昱婷掛冠，高思博將轉戰立委，留下遺缺待補，吳揆或許還未必想攪動這池春水。問題是，就算他對所有閣員表現都感到滿意，他是否想過如何從民眾四成多的不滿意度中再多挽回一些人心？

去年經濟成長達百分之十，失業率降到百分之五以下，這確實是馬政府執政的績效逐漸顯現。但由於所得差距的擴大，廣大的民眾感受不到復甦的喜悅，這波成長也被稱為「無感復甦」。「無感」是一個棘手的東西：政府可以說有在做事，統計數字看起來也很亮麗，但多數民眾就是感覺不到好在哪裡；那麼，你要選擇相信數字，還是相信感覺？

最糟的內閣改組，便是這種心不在焉的類型：政府鄭重宣布改組人事，而絕大多數民眾看不出這有何意義。兩周前，日本首相菅直人改組內閣，支持度雖微幅上升，但仍有七成多的受訪者表示對新內閣「沒有期待」，反映出日本民眾對政治深沉的倦怠感。如果吳揆持續保持「自我感覺良好」的心情，這波改組勢將掉入這種「無感改組」的泥淖，徒增民眾厭煩，從而錯失提振執政黨士氣和形象的良機。

不客氣地說，執政者對內閣人事之所以如此怠於更迭汰劣，主要癥結在把政府成員當成自家班底，而不是把政府機器當成為民服務的工具，所以就會縱容不適任者藏身其間。舉例而言，屢遭外界點名的財政部長，卻始終安居其位，現在還拜經濟復甦之賜成為「財經功臣」；又如當初以ＥＣＦＡ專家之名獲得拔擢的新聞局長，始終罕見其發言，而其解說ＥＣＦＡ之任務似乎也已過期；再如若干政務委員一直未見其實際作用，其角色都沒有調整必要嗎？民間都沒有良才比他們更勝任嗎？

陳水扁執政時，閣揆和閣員都只是他棋盤上的卒子，隨時可以拋棄；那是一個政治郎中的自私駕御術。相形之下，馬總統把一盤棋子擺在那裡長久不動，任憑民眾說破嘴還寸步不移，恐怕也是過猶不及，失卻領軍揮兵布局攻守的主動。且看日前國民黨的黨務改組，斷然呈現新的隊形，並化解原來內部的緊張；新團隊未必能旗開得勝，至少眼前因應得宜。然而，若要論迎接立委和總統大選兩場硬仗，並為國家社會再創新猷，馬英九更重要的戰略應該放在政務布局，策動內閣的積極作為，激勵整個政府的服務士氣，才是爭取民心的不二法門。

新年要大掃除，吳揆也請好好清理內閣那些個不太漂亮的角落吧。不要告訴我們說什麼人才很難找，手握大權，就是要幫民眾找出國之重才來做大事，不要只想著把位子填滿就好。二○一二的決戰已迫在眉睫，不要再用「無感改組」來虛應故事了！