Business interests ignore those of society - TW

[dArKeR]

As the news media offers massive coverage of the floods occurring across Taiwan, the government and industry leaders are busy with constitutional amendments, disaster relief, protection of fishing rights, lowering taxes, financial vested interests and public hazards.
Meanwhile, I read the forward to Peter Drucker's memoirs, Adventures of a Bystander, in which he criticizes government and big industry for relying on centralized control. Drucker believes that when government and industry become the institutions that overwhelmingly dominate society, the need for a "third sector" -- non-profit and public interest organizations -- becomes more important. Only through this will social values be protected, community leaders step forward and civic awareness develop.

Floods are frightening, but so are the statements of industry leaders and some government officials. Taiwan has only just completed the transition from authoritarian dictatorship to democracy. In the past, big business could not have enjoyed this type of freedom without depending on the government's whim. The interdependence between government and industry and, in particular, industry's often domineering power -- rising out of its massive economic strength -- allows big business to control the government, thus weakening society.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2005/06/21/2003260168

[newswolf56]

1. Lee Min-yung's advice could as easily apply to our own...

...Democratic Party in its quest for restored majority. Thank you for posting this; it is the most thoughtfully worthwhile reading I have found on this site in several days.

[NorCalDem]

2. The best ones

usually come from foreign newspapers, that always amuses me.