Pow!litics as Usual in Taiwan (If you think Politics is rough here, get a load of this...)

New York Post ^ | 07/09/2010

[SeekAndFind]

You think Albany's a madhouse? Taiwan legislators throw objects at, splash water on and kick each other yesterday, sending two to the hospital in a brawl over how quickly to ratify a trade pact with China.

About a dozen anti-China opposition lawmakers, set on blocking speedy approval of an economic-cooperation agreement that was signed last week, fought against about the same number of ruling Nationalists for control of the podium just minutes after the Parliament session opened.

A legislator from each side, one of whom fell from the podium, went to the hospital after the fight as the Parliament speaker called a recess until today.

[SeekAndFind]

[a fool in paradise]

I hope the burgers are safe!

Taiwan: Restaurants urged to put labels on giant burgers (dentists push for ban) (e China Post Thursday, July 8, 2010)

[Wuli]

There is a disconnect in western societies, and the U.S. in particular, with a stereotyped impression that “Asians” are more “passive”, yet the scene described in the story from Taiwan is very similar to scenes that have taken place, over the past few decades, in the legislative bodies of South Korea, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia, for example (and maybe others I don’t have an immediate recollection about).

It seems that at least in politics, Asians are not passive at all when it comes to demonstrating their passionate sentiments on an issue; it fact, I think they are more “demonstrative” in public as well as inside their legislative bodies (other than among the cow-towed mainline Chinese - who want to go on living).

If the scene depicted was from the U.S. Congress, some U.S. legislator would probably call for legislation to require mandatory suspension of any legislator who participated in the ruckus until they had completed a required set of “anger management” counseling sessions.

Maybe, just a guess: the “animal spirits” of “rising civilization” are alive and well in Asia and slowly being placed on mandatory suspension in the west.

Let’s ask ourselves: How much does the scene in this report reflect real passion and how much does the U.S. Congress look like it’s collective guru is Rodney King (from “can’t we all just get along” fame). Which reflects the most earnest, most honest advocacy of the interests of the constituents? Is real honest democratic representation placid, or chaotic?

[I’m sort of just playing devils advocate here.]