Elections are a Paradise for Opportunistic Politicians

Elections are a Paradise for Opportunistic Politicians
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
April 4, 2011

At an anti-Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant banquet in Changhua, President Ma was met with shouted obscenties and insults from the host and protesters. For Ma, the occasion was an embarrassment. By contrast, when Green Camp presidential candidates Su Tseng-chang and Tsai Ing-wen appeared on the dais, they chatted and laughed, and casually signed a statement promising to halt the Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant project. They brazenly blanked out the fact that they themselves were the ones who promoted this project several years ago.

Many of those who gaze upon such a scene are likely to be deceived. They are likely to conclude that the Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant project was hammered out by the Ma administration, single-handedly. They are likely to conclude that the KMT cared only about economics, cared nothing about the environment, and rode roughshod over any opposition. They are likely to conclude that the KMT must have been an "evil political party that favored Big Business and failed to cherish the earth." In facdt, of course, nothing could be further from the truth. But President Ma was denied access to the microphone. This left him in an embarassing situation, unable to speak and defend himself.

The truth is just the opposite of appearances. The Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant was a program vigorously promoted in 2006 by the ruling DPP government. Then Premier Su Tseng-chang and then Deputy Premier Tsai Ing-wen, trumpeted the Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant project. They praised it as a "big investment [that would provide] lots of warmth." They ordered government agencies to fully support its implementation. The Ma administration's promotion of the project was merely the continuation of a policy Inherited from the previous administration. But as election sentiment intensified, Su and Tsai waved a magic wand and instantly become environmentalists clamoring for its cancellation. The ability of opportunists to switch sides so swiftly, in response to shifting political winds, leaves one speechless.

The Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant is a 400 billion NT investment project. The amount was staggering. That is why five years ago Su Tseng-chang and Tsai Ing-wen promoted it as a "big investment." That is why Chen Shui-bian cited it as proof he had made good on his promise of "economic revitalization." Back then, Su and Tsai ordered government agencies to "sweep aside investment barriers" for large investment projects such as Kuo Kuang Petrochemical, Formosa Plastics Steel Division, and the Taichung Science and Technology Park. Tsai Ing-wen was even rumored to have lobbied EIA members. Today, these projects remain stalled in the EIA phase, unable to begin construction. Subtract these major programs from Su and Tsai's "big investment," and what is there left to boast about? Shouldn't they use this opportunity to come clean with the public?

Confronted by the hollowing out of their own policies, Su and Tsai refuse to consider the crux of the matter. Environmental protection and economic development often conflict with each other. They often amount to a zero sum game. Su and Tsai make no effort to reconcile the two. Instead they have taken the most expedient and irresponsible way out. They have joined the chorus of naysayers, donned green vests, and become "instant environmentalists." By contrast, the Ma administration, which inherited the Chen regime's policies, is seeking solutions, for both Taiwan's economy and for Kuo Kuang Petrochemical. Ironically it has become the whipping boy for opportunistic politicians.

President Ma endured public protests and public embarrassment. But that was not the worst of it. The worst was the cavalier demeanor of these opportunistic politicians, who apparently felt no sense of responsibility whatsoever. Su Tseng-chang admits that he once promoted the Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant project. But he now argues that the global climate and the business environment have changed, deftly evading responsibility for his own role in the matter. A 400 billion NT investment project was subjected to a 30 year industry assessment process. Plant construction under the Chen regime was delayed several years. Now that the Green Camp is in the opposition however, it is obstructing the project. Business owners may strive mightily to be professional. But try as they might, what can they do when confronted by such shameless opportunism? Tsai Ing-wen said that the plant could be built in Saudi Arabia. Her remark echoed Marie Antoinette's "Then let them eat cake!" Leave aside factors such as plant location, related industries, and labor. These opportunists cannot be bothered to seek solutions for environmental problems. Instead they cavalierly pass these problems on to other countries. What sort of environmental justice is this?

Su Tseng-chang and Tsai Ing-wen signed a statement promising to oppose the Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant project. By doing so, they defaulted on their original commitments. These individuals apparently feel no anxiety, and lose no sleep over the fact that their current commitments repudiate their earlier commitments. How can anyone believe any of their commitments? If someone changes his mind because he realizes the error of his ways, that is commendable. But if someone panders to the mob, merely for the sake of votes, he is simultaneouly debasing environmentalism and revealing his own opportunism. When Tsai Ing-wen was vice premier, she expedited the construction of Nuclear Plant Four. Now however, she is singing a different tune. She is shrilly demanding a "nuclear-free homeland." How can anyone believe an "environmentalist" who straddles both sides of the fence in such a flagrant manner?

The Ma administration has chosen to continue the Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant project. It must now attempt to solve problems the Chen regime could not, including choosing a site, undergoing environmental impact assessment, and meeting the needs of industry. President Ma could decide not to assume responsibility for this mess. He could wash its hands of the matter entirely. Doing so would save him a lot of trouble. But how would the public feel watching another administration take the easy way out? Elections must be about more than political rhetoric. Politicians' deeds must match their words. Voters must determine whether politicians are willing to face problems. They must evaluate them on the basis of their ability to govern. That is why the public must see past the theatrics surrounding the Kuo Kuang Petrochemical Plant.

選舉豈是投機政客的天堂？
【聯合報╱社論】 2011.04.06

在彰化的反國光石化餐會上，馬總統遭到主持人的粗口辱罵和民眾抗議，場面難堪。與此形成強烈對比的，則是綠營總統候選人蘇貞昌和蔡英文在台上的談笑風生，他們輕鬆簽下反國光承諾書，把當年自己推動此案的大氣魄全拋在腦後。

看到這個場面，許多民眾也許會產生一種錯覺：以為國光石化是馬政府上台後一手打造的計劃，是國民黨只重經濟、不顧環保的又一顢頇決策，甚至因而得出「邪惡政黨圖利財團、不愛鄉土」的結論。事實其實不是如此，但馬總統在台上連麥克風都拿不到，僅留下百口莫辯的窘境。

真相與人們看到的表象恰好相反。國光石化是2006年民進黨執政時代大力推動的計劃，蘇貞昌、蔡英文任正副閣揆時，還把國光石化當成其「大投資、大溫暖」政策的主軸，轟轟烈烈地鞭策行政體系要全力配合執行；馬政府推動此事，只是政黨輪替後承續執行前朝政策罷了。但隨著大選情勢的激化，蘇、蔡順勢搖身變成了「環保派」，搖旗吶喊要國光石化滾蛋。這樣的形勢變換，投機者選邊易位之快速，讓人咋舌。

國光石化是高達四千億元的投資案，這正是五年前蘇貞昌、蔡英文用它來包裝「大投資」口號的主因；金額實在太動人了，足以幫陳水扁撐起他「拚經濟」的誓言。當時，蘇、蔡不僅訓令各部門設法為國光石化、台塑大鋼廠及中科等大投資案「排除投資障礙」，蔡英文甚至傳出曾致電向環評委員關說；然而，這些案件至今都卡在環評，無法啟動。拿掉這幾個重大計劃後，蘇蔡兩人的「大投資」還剩下什麼可以誇口的東西，他們何不趁此向社會坦誠說明一下？

面對自己執政績效的空洞化，蘇、蔡不去思考癥結何在，不去思考如何解開環保與經濟發展的零和死結，卻選擇了一個最簡單而不負責的方式，就是把自己移到對立面去；以為穿上環保背心，就變成了環保人士。相對的，馬政府承續扁政府政策，試圖為台灣經濟及國光石化等案尋求出路，卻反成為投機政客大肆攻擊的箭靶。

令人不忍卒睹的，倒不是馬總統面對民眾嗆聲的困窘，而是這些投機政客變臉之輕鬆愉悅，好像心理上從不覺得有什麼負擔。蘇貞昌承認推動過國光石化，但辯稱現在全球氣候和產業環境都有了變化，這真是四兩撥千斤的推卸法：一個四千億的投資案，少說得有卅年的產業前景評估，建廠在扁政府任內已拖了幾年，現在綠營再換上在野的袈裟來杯葛；業者再怎麼認真專業，如何擋得了政客的論戰技法？蔡英文說廠可以設到沙烏地阿拉伯去，也是「何不食肉糜」的說法；且不提建廠區位、產業關連、勞動力等因素，自己不想費心解決的攤子隨便倒給其他國家，這又是哪門子環保正義？

因此，當蘇貞昌和蔡英文一派輕鬆地簽下反國光承諾書，別忘了，他們也同時收回了自己當初推動的承諾。能用後一個承諾來銷毀前一個承諾，而不稍覺不安的人，人們如何相信他們會履踐承諾？如果變臉是出於理念的覺醒，也許還值得稱許；若只是為了選舉投群眾所好，那不僅濫用了環保的舞台，也只暴露自己的投機。包括蔡英文在副院長任內催促核四趕工，如今卻改唱「非核家園」的高調，這種左右逢源的環保機會主義者，誰敢相信？

馬政府選擇接續推動國光石化案，就得面對扁政府無法解決的問題，包括地點的選擇、環境影響評估及關連產業的需求等等。當然馬總統也可以選擇不接手這個爛攤子，縮手了事，如此能省去許多麻煩，但大家會覺得一個便宜行事的政府更棒嗎？如果選舉要看的不只是政治人物的優雅說詞，也要檢驗他們言行的一致，要估量他們面對問題的氣度，乃至研判他們的綜合治理能力；那麼，反國光石化這場大戲，值得觀眾深度賞析。