A New Cabinet, A New Political Climate: Just Do It!

A New Cabinet, A New Political Climate: Just Do It!
China Times editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
February 1, 2012

Summary: There is no honeymoon period for a second term president, let alone a trial period. President Ma Ying-jeou's second term cabinet has a new lineup. It includes old veterans and new hires. It includes many outspoken individuals. It deserves our affirmation. The most important aspect of the newly formed cabinet however, is not whether it includes new faces. The important point is whether it can make a fresh start and more effectively implement administration policy. This will depend on whether cabinet members have the determination, initiative, and willingness to do what needs to be done. Only then can President Ma leave behind a legacy.

Full Text Below:

There is no honeymoon period for a second term president, let alone a trial period. President Ma Ying-jeou's second term cabinet has a new lineup. It includes old veterans and new hires. It includes many outspoken individuals. It deserves our affirmation. The most important aspect of the newly formed cabinet however, is not whether it includes new faces. The important point is whether it can make a fresh start and more effectively implement administration policy. This will depend on whether cabinet members have the determination, initiative, and willingness to do what needs to be done. Only then can President Ma leave behind a legacy.

When the cabinet reshuffle was first announced, Ma's choice financial and economic cabinet members was subject to considerable criticism. The reason was simple. With the exception of Academia Sinica member Kuan Chung-min, the cabinet was filled with old faces. But as cabinet member Sean Chen pointed out, given the European debt crisis, they could hardly risk naming an all new captain and an all new crew. The good thing about old faces is that they put people at ease. A ball team cannot consist entirely of Wang Chien-mings. Political appointees each have their own roles, their own duties. Only then can they work as a team. Only then will their fighting ability be optimal. Do not underestimate the importance of political appointees. Things do no get done by themselves. People get things done. Some people twiddle their thumbs. Others spontaneously seek out things that need to be done. Kuan Chung-min may be able to give the financial and economic cabinet the shot in the arm that it needs.

The list of new cabinet members includes many eye-catching names. It includes Chang Shan-cheng, who was lured back to Taiwan from Google. During his early years he was the National Science Council's Chief of Science and Technology. Following the 2000 change in ruling parties, he left public office and went into the private sector. He is experienced in both industry and government. The new list of cabinet members includes Chairman of the National Science Council and Academia Sinica member Chu Ching-yi. He and Chang were both Division Chiefs in Human Resources. They are good friends and interact well with each other. They should be able to upgrade the Ministry of Science and Technology and pioneer new horizons for Taiwan's technology industry.

Ma has also recruited Lung Ying-tai, from the University of Hong Kong. He has persuaded her to return to Taiwan to serve as Chairman of the Council for Cultural Affairs. She has written extensively. She is a heavy weight in humanist circles. She is outspoken to those in power. She is unafraid to admonish them, and has never been one to mince words. Years ago Ma persuaded her to return to Taiwan from Germany, where she was serving as Chief of the Bureau of Culture. She gave the Ma administration considerable face. Ma Ying-jeou has once again convinced her to serve his administration. Morale within the CCA has been low since last year's "Dreamer" controversy. The task will be arduous. But her appointment has raised public expectations for the soon to be upgraded Ministry of Culture.

Central University President Chiang Wei-ning is a dark horse who will serve as Minister of Education. He spoke frankly, saying he will have to do at least a week's worth of homework. The administration is about to promote its program of 12 year compulsory education. This includes "admissions without entrance exams," and "admissions on the basis of special merit" to be finalized in April, prior to May 20. Chiang must quickly familiarize himself with the situation, and make his decision before the deadline. This is an enormous challenge. But for the fleet of foot and swift to act, creative and effective Chiang Wei-ning, this should be no problem.

Former DPP Kaohsiung County Chief Yang Chiu-hsing has accepted a cabinet appointment. When interviewed he said he would pay special attention to Taiwan's agricultural systems, especially in southern Taiwan. He believes the KMT needs to do more in southern Taiwan. His thinking may make up for certain deficiencies in the KMT government. He and the new COA chairman Chen Pao-chi can complement each other.

When men and women of ability are willing to serve in the government, it means the government is one people can trust. But being an official on Taiwan is not easy. Above the political appointee is the President and the Premier. Below the political appointee is public opinion, Alongside the political appointee are one hundred fierce legislators. One either sits while being lectured, or stands while being scolded. Political appointees find it difficult to survive. As a result scholars and industrialists consider a political appointment risky business. Ma has presented a cabinet rich in new ideas. Clearly President Ma's people skills are appreciated, That is why so many people are willing to set aside their comfortable lives in academia or industry for an opportunity to show what they can do.

Having crossed the Rubicon, all Ma can do is continue advancing. The new cabinet has yet to take office, but it must face the European debt crisis, Taiwan's economy is about to flash blue, signaling a crisis. The larger environment is extremely unfavorable for the new cabinet. But the Ma administration is not under re-election pressure. No elections are schedule for the next two years, It should be able to quietly get things done. It should be free from excessive political interference.

Political appointees come and go, When they step down, their departure is handled discreetly. But once they have agreed to serve, they must be fully prepared psychologically, They must be determined to succeed and not accept failure. They must be determined to achieve results and to not surrender. The Ma administration's first term achievements were ridiculed as "wu gan," or "undetectable." The reason was that some officials were afraid or reluctant to defend the administration's policies. Yin Chi-ming has been reappointed Minister of Economic Affairs, probably because he vigorously defended ECFA during the reelection campaign.

Political appointees must of course do more than defend administration policies during election campaigns. They must assume final responsibility for their own policies. They must not reflexively kowtow to legislators. They must not reflexively run from the media. When offered suggestions or constructive criticism, they should respectfully listen. When attacked irrationally, they should step forward and say "no." If they do their jobs well, the public will applaud them. If they do their jobs poorly, they should quietly pack up and leave, They should not feel aggrieved. The Ma administration is not President Ma's personal adminstration. A government must assume responsibility for its political appointees. The president cannot sit at home year after year "reflecting upon his mistakes."

新內閣新氣象 要敢作敢擔當
2012-02-01中國時報

連任者沒有蜜月期，遑論試驗期；馬英九總統第二任新內閣在開春後擺好陣容，老幹新枝，而且納入不少敢言之士，值得肯定。最重要的，內閣改組不在於閣員是否都是新面孔，而在於政府政策效能是否確實全新啟動，這就有賴所有閣員拿出魄力，肯擔當、肯負責，才能創造馬總統希望的歷史評價。

這次改組最早披露的財經小內閣，反而遭到較多批評。原因很簡單，除了中研院士管中閔出任政務委員外，都是老面孔搬風。然而，誠如閣揆陳?所言，面對歐債危機總不能都是新船長，老手的好處是讓民眾安心；一個球隊不可能個個都是王建民，政務官各司其職，各負其責，才能將團隊戰力發揮到最高。不要小看政務委員的功能，事情是人做的，有些人為官投閒置散，有些人天生就會找事做，管中閔或許就能為財經小內閣注入推力和動能。

新閣名單中有不少讓人眼睛一亮的人士。諸如從谷哥挖角回台灣的張善政出任政務委員，他早年即任國科會科技處長，二○○○年政黨輪替後離開公職，轉到民間公司任職，業界與政府歷練都夠豐富；新閣發布出任國科會主委的中研院士朱敬一當年與他同期擔任人文處長，兩人交誼甚深互動更佳，相信可以為升格後的科技部及台灣科技產業再升級，創造一番新局面。

此外，從香港大學延攬返台出任文建會主委的龍應台，著作豐沛，在人文圈分量極重，對權力者以敢言敢諫著稱，從來不是唯唯諾諾之輩。當年馬英九延攬她從德國返台出任文化局長，為馬市府團隊增添不少光釆，這回馬英九再次說服她為政府服務，還要重振文建會自去年夢想家爭議後的低迷士氣，任務艱鉅，卻讓大眾對未來升格後的文化部更加期待。

中央大學校長蔣偉寧則以黑馬之姿出任教育部長。他很誠實的說，他至少要花一個星期時間做功課，十二年國教推動在即，甚至包括「免試入學超額比序條件」、「特色招生辦法」都要在五二○前的四月就得定案，他得花最少的時間進入狀況，並在限期內做成決策，必然是極大的挑戰，但對衝勁十足、行動快速，講究創意和效率的蔣偉寧而言，應該不是大問題。

這次入閣的前民進黨籍高雄縣長楊秋興受訪時自陳要關注台灣的農業系統，特別是南台灣。他認為國民黨在南台灣還需要耕耘，他的思維可以挹注國民黨政府的不足，相信也能和學者出身的新任農委會主委陳保基相輔相成。

對社會大眾而言，能人幹士願意為政府服務，代表這個政府可以讓人信賴。然而，在台灣為官不易，政務官上有總統、院長，下有輿論監督，旁邊還有上百位火力勇猛的立法委員，官員不是坐著聽訓就得站著挨罵，「官不聊生」讓學界和業者視為官為畏途。這次能擺出不乏新意的布局，顯見馬總統為人還是受到肯定，才會讓這麼多人才願意放下自己熟悉的學術生活或在業界一展長才的機會。

既已做了過河卒子，只能拚命向前。新內閣還沒就任就要面對歐債風暴，台灣景氣逼近藍燈的危機，整體大環境對新內閣極為不利；但是，馬政府沒有連任壓力，兩年後才有選舉，相對可以安安靜靜做點事，不受到太多政治外力的干擾。

政務官來來去去，下台時要淡然處之，但既點頭上台，就得做好完全的心理準備，只許成功不許失敗，拿出不做出點成績絕不罷休的拚勁。馬政府第一任績被譏評為「無感」，和部分政務官不敢、不肯為政策辯護相關。這次重回內閣出任經建會主委的尹啟銘，相信和他在大選期間火力旺盛為ＥＣＦＡ政策辯護有關。

身為政務官不只在選舉期間才有需要辯護，時時刻刻都要為自己拍板定案的政策負責，不能見立委就彎腰，見媒體就落跑；但凡建議或批評，有道理者敬謹受教，沒道理者當然要挺身說「不」，做得好民眾自會給予掌聲，做不好二話不說請打包走人，沒有任何委屈可言。馬政府不是馬總統一人的政府，這個政府需要政務官共同擔起責任，總不能年年讓總統在家「閉門思過」。