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"Pay close attention to that man behind the curtain!"

Friday, May 30, 2008

The sound of rising prices in Taiwan

We hate price hikes... No, wait!

The administration of Taiwan's new president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has been trying to place the blame for the rapid price hikes that are overwhelming the nation on the administration of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). But anyone who was paying attention should remember the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) demands for the DPP to freeze prices while using campaign banners such as this:

When an election was at stake, things were different!
A campaign banner from before Ma Ying-jeou was elected
Translation: "The price of rice, gas/oil, flour, pork, tissue... up! up! UP!
Folks, can you endure it?
It's time to change the ruling party. (#2) As president, Ma will immediately fight for the economy.
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Li-nah implores you."

Note: Chen Li-nah (陳麗娜) has connections to KMT vote buying.

Do you see yet another KMT double standard here?

An inadvertant pun for Ma Ying-jeou
Onstage at Ma's inauguration party at the Taipei Arena (小巨蛋) -- dressed entirely in blue -- 1970s chanteuse Fong Fei-fei (鳳飛飛) performed 「掌聲響起」 (zhǎngshēng xiǎngqǐ) ("The Sound of Applause Erupts"). A rather fitting pun on the title changes the characters to 「漲聲響起」 (zhǎngshēng xiǎngqǐ): "The Sound of Rising Prices Erupts." I should credit blogger "kusotare," who uploaded a recording of the tune accompanied by video of the shockingly-long gas lines at 5 locations in Sanchong (三重) on Tuesday:


【影片】08.05.27 馬英九無預警宣布汽油漲價當晚@三重(5處加油站)
Translation: (Video clip) May 27, 2008, The night Ma Ying-jeou's gov't announced the gas price hike without warning

Beacons of one thing or another: , , , , ,

Cross-posted at Taiwan Matters!

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