How to get good governance rite

I was in Taichung at a large family gathering when President William Lai (賴清德) spoke to members of the Lions Clubs International. He discussed everything from economic growth, wages and tax cuts to child care, housing rentals and long-term care. He also quoted the Book of Rites (禮記), which says: “When the Great Way prevails, the world belongs to all the people; the worthy and capable are selected, and trust and harmony are cultivated.”

There is work well on its way in Taiwan toward realizing the ideals that the passage laid out: “the old are cared for until death, the able-bodied are gainfully employed, and the children may grow and flourish.” However, the preceding line, being concerned with selecting the worthy and capable, and fostering trust and harmony, might prove to be even more difficult.

What does it mean to be “capable”?

A good academic background and being well versed in the law is certainly important for a minister, but real governance is not about sitting in an office, reading reports and listening to briefings; it is about going out into the community, listening to people, identifying problems, understanding them and solving them.

Former Singaporean prime minister Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀) governed under a different system from Taiwan’s. While we certainly need not copy it as a whole, his emphasis on developing talent, meritocracy and practical results is worth considering. Someone’s true capabilities are not shown in their resume, but in how they handle responsibility and difficult situations. For example, when encountering a policy setback, can they identify what went wrong, listen to different viewpoints, correct their mistakes and get the job done properly?

The construction project at Daan Forest Park is one such test of governing ability.

I have previously raised concerns about the Taipei City Government’s public works in the park (“Public works reflect governance,” May 30, page 8).

The city government said that although an on-site inspection had been conducted before construction began, the age of the infrastructure and insufficient records meant that it was only after excavation began that fire mains from 1988, unidentified power lines and Chunghwa Telecom Co (中華電信) cables were discovered on site. Other factors included changes in regulations governing the handling of excavated soil, underground water seepage and heavy rain.

Perhaps not all of these issues were foreseeable, but the question of how many among them could have been caught in advance is still worth asking.

A rule of thumb for good governance could be three years of planning, one year of renovations and 10 years of use.

This is not to suggest that all projects need three years of planning, but to emphasize a philosophy of governance: It is better to spend the time before construction begins than to leave the costs to be paid afterward.

Elections can determine who receives the people’s mandate, but they do not guarantee that the right people end up in the right jobs. True virtue is not loyalty to one’s leader, but responsibility to the people. True capability is not about giving good presentations, but solving people’s problems.

Cultivating trust and harmony is equally important. Trust is earned, and politicians must be accountable for their promises; political parties may compete and debate with each other, but must still cooperate for the good of the country. Democracy is not about eliminating differences in opinions, but building the trust needed to live together despite those differences.

The Book of Rites proposed these ideals more than 2,000 years ago. Today, they remain one of the most important tests for Taiwan’s democracy.

“The world belongs to all people” asks whom the government serves; “select the worthy and capable” asks who should govern; and “foster trust and harmony” asks how society can build cohesion.

True commitment to these ideas means putting the best people in the positions best suited to them, and ensuring that power is genuinely used to listen, serve and solve the problems of everyday people.