Wed, Jul 29, 2020 page8

• Using profit carrot, not the political gloom stick

  • By Jimway Chang 張經偉
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  Taiwanese comedian and YouTube talk show host Brian Tseng (曾博恩) is under the spotlight once again after it was revealed that guests were being charged different amounts to appear on his show.

  Online opinion is widely divided as to the nature of Tseng’s political leanings, but I would suggest that he values one thing above all else: the pursuit of profit.

  Anyone who can increase income and viewing figures will be given a place next to Tseng on his The Night Night Show guest sofa. At the same time, Tseng’s fans tune in for the concomitants of profitmaking: pleasure and entertainment.

  Regardless of how Tseng is perceived, most of the online talking heads and Facebook groups criticizing him are not even close to having his influence. People should not be too hasty to judge given that the majority, if they are honest, pursue profit and pleasure ahead of lofty political ideals.

  This is an undeniable trait of human nature, so why not let ideals overlap with people’s natural desire for profit and pleasure?

  Consider the issue of Taiwanese independence — or perhaps it should be called resistance to unification.

  Taiwanese do not want to be ruled by a government that conceals the outbreak of a deadly new virus, causing the epidemic to wreak havoc among its population, and that builds defective dams that are the cause of flooded homes. Is this not a form of self-interest?

  The American Revolutionary War was triggered by the inhabitants of 13 North American colonies who were no longer willing to pay taxes to the British government without North American representatives in its parliament. After independence, the US’ founding fathers used a constitution to protect citizens’ rights.

  By comparison, political movements that hold high the banner of “justice” and condemn the pursuit of self-interest generally result in failure and misery, for example the Boxers, the Soviets, the Taliban and so on.

  Perhaps some readers support Taiwanese independence. They should reflect on why Tseng’s guests are often from the opposite side of the political debate. If identifying as “Taiwanese” is seen as basic common sense, why is it that pro-independence groups and activities are shunned by the vast majority of middle-class voters?

  Why is it that, despite having had a Democratic Progressive Party government and legislative majority for more than four years, independence is rarely discussed within official forums? Is it because Taiwanese have not developed their own wisdom and remain brainwashed by the party-state?

  Taiwan’s pro-independence political faction always paints its members as “warriors of justice” fighting against the tyranny of the party-state. History suggests that this is not the most effective method, otherwise the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) would have had to completely relinquish power in 1996.

  One explanation is that Taiwanese independence and transitional justice are not necessarily mutually inclusive. Many of the people persecuted under the KMT dictatorship were not supporters of independence; quite a few of them supported unification with China.

  Another reason is that people tend to be motivated by self-interest and their own pleasure.

  Therefore, rather than warn of annexation by Red China, it would be better to emphasize independent nation-building as the path to a safer, more prosperous and beautiful future for Taiwan. Such a movement would gain far more supporters than Tseng could ever dream of.

  Jimway Chang holds a master’s degree from National Tsing Hua University’s Institute of History.

  Translated by Edward Jones
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