Look Not at The Current Situation but at The Future

“For the purpose that freeway road users can pay tolls more effectively and safely neither stopping cars, nor using cash, we programmed a BOT case which is called "Private Sector Involvement in Development of Electronic Toll Collection System" in order to promote using ETC on the freeway, increase passing volume of toll stations, save payment time, improve convenience and safety, and reduce air pollution. Furthermore, with the development of intelligent freeway in the future, ETC system will be operated and integrated into Electronic Toll & Transportation Management, ETTM, as the base of Intelligent Transportation System, ITS”. It is proclaimed by the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau, MOTC, which intended to replace the old manual toll collection with electronic toll collection and to make an avant-garde step forward in the 30 years of Taiwan Freeway history.

        There are in total of 23 toll stations scattered on the Taiwan national freeways, the function of these toll stations was to collect toll from those who used the freeways, however, there is a big problem in this concept. According to the statistics provided by the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau that two thirds of automobiles using the freeways now have the chance of not getting through the toll stations, because of the short distances they are traveling and also the unequal distances between toll stations, which means that they do not have to pay for the use. In contrast, for those people whose residence are close to the toll stations it would be unfair for them because they have to pay the same amount of money as driving from one toll station to another, even though they only use a short distance of the freeway. For example people living in Taishan may have to pay toll not long after they drive their car on the freeway passing by the Taishan Toll Station.

As a result, the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau came up with the solution that instead of collecting toll at each toll stations with the same price, we can measure the distances a driver made on the highway and charge him with the length he used. Therefore, in order to make it possible we rely on prevail of the electronic toll collection. Moreover, after switching completely from manual toll collection our government can gain about 19 billion NTD and use it into social expenses. The vice minister of the Taiwan Area National Freeway Bureau happily announced that Taiwan could save up to billions of budgets and would become the first country in the world to adopt to such system.

Yet, many people question the actuality of such a huge profit. Besides, in order to fulfill the plan the government still have to spend a lot of money to build up the system, which seems like a great risk. Also replacing the manual toll collection will make 974 toll collectors’ loss their job. The cost is at the material and moral aspect.

However, think this way if you do not have to lose your precious time waiting at a toll station to pay toll manually. Isn’t that a significant benefit you earned especially when you are in a hurry? Furthermore the rules about toll collecting are restricted in many ways which the government would lose some money. For example the present rules indicates that if there is any natural disasters like typhoon happening the toll stations would stop working and let users passing through without paying toll. This is simply because of concerning about the life security of these toll collectors. On the contrary if electronic toll collection is put to function we do not have to worry. As for those who lose their job due to the system, it is our government’s duty to help them transfer to another job.

        In conclusion, the benefit and convenience of electronic toll collection may not appear in the blink of an eye because of the current moral and popularity of the ETC device. However, if we think wide and far it is without doubt a profiting machine in the near future.    

References 

1.      Special Report on Electronic Toll Collection --「Public Participation in Build and Operate Project for Electronic Toll Collection System on Freeways」Toll&Service Div. 2013/11/04 http://www.freeway.gov.tw/English/Publish.aspx?cnid=1112&p=503

2.      Development, Toll&Service Div., 2013/11/04 http://www.freeway.gov.tw/English/Publish.aspx?cnid=1622&p=1743

3.      國道計程 先做到相對公平http://www.cna.com.tw/news/aHEL/201310270048-1.aspx

4.      國道收費員 抗議資遣費被吃http://news.chinatimes.com/society/11050301/112013121800125.html

5.      計程收費政策說明

http://www.freeway.gov.tw/Publish.aspx?cnid=1880&p=3860

6.      人工收費車道注意事項

http://www.freeway.gov.tw/Publish.aspx?cnid=1484&p=484

7.      國道全面計程收費 台灣領先全球

http://news.rti.org.tw/index_newsContent.aspx?nid=471951

Annotation 3 Transcription

Good afternoon everyone we are group one of the politics and economy. I am Robert and he is Knot. Our topic today is Capitalism: A tool of the government.

Ok, to begin with I will like to introduce the tern Capitalism to every one of you. The way how capitalism functions is like different gears that twisting and pushing one another to operate the concept. As a result, capitalism is divided into two categories of people, the middle class who are those people with capitols and properties and the wage workers who had nothing at all. The two groups, therefore, worked as complementary toward one another for the middle class provides capitols and techniques and the wage workers provide labor.

Many wonders and criticism had been made to question the fairness of capitalism. The argument is that if capitalism continues to function. The problems will soon occur. The opposed people argues that the middle class will eventually be more wealthy while the workers still workers.

However, just think for a moment. If you have to work very hard every day and you get the same amount of rewards as those who are lazy. Do you think it is fair? Think this way if you have a lot of things to study like English literature, American history and have annotations to write and your classmates in response only watches movies do you still think it is fair? I don’t think so. The purpose of capitalism is to reward those hard working people with the amount of prize they deserved. It is like how the Chinese proverb goes “As you sow, so as you reap” A work and gain concept. Therefore, it is clear to see which one is more fair isn't it. Huh.

Even with this perfect concept there is still one fatal defect and that is moral corruption. Moral corruption includes corruptions like temptations and laziness. Take this for example if you are listening to a very boring class and wanted to take out your smartphone to play it is a kind of temptation. If we use it on the economy it will result in corruption. However, it is inevitable to face these challenges, therefore, strong self-disciple is required and also other outside factors such as strict laws.

Now we will take Singapore as an example of the clean government. Singapore is a typical capitalism country. Singapore had transformed itself from a British colonial pot city into one of the world’s financial Centre. And it even becomes the head of the Asian four dragons. The success of Singapore is due to its small and medium-sized enterprises. It responds to the work-gain concept we mentioned above. Also government’s economy policy is essential too. To avoid moral corruption the Singaporean government used severe laws such as life-imprisonment to restrict their people from going down.

Capitalism itself is with good intention, but moral corruption is what makes it notorious. However, it is impossible to avoid such defect to happen for there are various temptations throughout our life. As a result, simply trusting the innocence and efficiency of the government is not enough. It should be accompanied with a set of strict laws to watch it. After all, we can conclude that “Capitalism is nothing but a tool of the government that depends on who is using it”.

“As you sow, so will you reap.” Capitalism is Actually the fairest (Revised)

“Capital is dead labor, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor, and lives the more, the more labor it sucks.” The German economist Karl Marx has defined Capitalism as an unfair system for people to live in. The worry of Karl Marx is that if our society were divided into two classes; the middle class who owned capital, factory and hired wage laborers; and workers, who were ordinary, people that owned nothing at all. The fear of this system is that if it continues to circulate the middle class will eventually gain more money while the wage workers still working for them.

However, the original purpose of Capitalism is to get the hard working people to gain what they desired. The concept of “As you sow, so will you reap.” Without doubt having people rewarded according to their effort is definitely better than distribute the rewards equally.

Many people questioned the existence of Capitalism. Criticisms have long stigmatized it to corruption, bribery and the method to oppress the poor. The truth, however, is that without Capitalism there will be no competition at all. The word competition may seem cruel for some people, because it is associated to winner and loser. The winner gets qualified and the loser gets knocked out. The way it functions is what most critics had bombarded at. However, the nature defect of human beings is that they tend to get idle easily when they are out of pressure. Think this way, if everyone is distributed with same reward because we need to take care of everyone. Do you think everyone will work to their utmost? As a result, there is no motive for people to strive hard because no matter you are hard working or lazy you will eventually be the same. Take this idea into consideration if everyone has a job then we do not have the burden of taking care of the poor and everyone could be able to feed themselves. Therefore, we can conclude that Capitalism itself is originally with proper purpose, but it is moral corruption that brought it to failure.

There are many kinds of moral corruption in our daily lives. These include temptation; laziness and power pursue which will destroy a country’s economy structure if it is involved. How to avoid this catastrophe then is essential. Take Singapore for example, the country had successfully transformed itself from a British colonial port city into one of the world’s financial center. According to Dr Harold Siow Song Teng, a Research Fellow and Administrative Manager at the Centre on Asia, he argues in his book Government Policy and Critical Success Factors of Small Businesses in Singapore that “one of the main economic players responsible for Singapore’s economic success is its small and medium-sized enterprises or SMEs. Their overall success has helped propel the country and its people forward. From economic policies to politics, Singapore is a planned and regulated economy. Singapore’s economic success story is actually the result of a form of capitalism carefully calibrated and controlled by the government.” Now think for a minute if it not because a person wants to gain more money and not because a person is benefited with the amount of work he devoted, how could Singapore be called the head of the four Asian dragons. 

Moreover, he continues to claim that “An important element or aspect of good critical success factors (CSFs) emerges from the role being played by the government. The existence of good government or public policies that are pro-business is vital for the success of firms”. Singapore enforced strict laws that punishes whoever deviate the right path toward righteous. For example, if there happened to be any forms of bribery or moral corruption severe punishments such as life imprisonment would be enforced. The Singaporean government would shall no mercy toward those people who crossed the line to avoid corruption.   

In the end, the statistics had proved Singapore to be the world’s financial center. It is simply due to the severe laws that supervised the government’s performance. Moral corruption is a dangerous thing that leads to destructions. However, if we found ways to overcome it the result will be beneficial. 

References:

Harold Siow Song Teng “Government Policy and Critical Success Factors of Small Businesses in Singapore” Nov 2011      http://www.c-s-p.org/flyers/Government-Policy-and-Critical-Success-Factors-of-Small-Businesses-in-Singapore1-4438-3352-5.htm

“As you sow, so will you reap.” Capitalism is Actually the fairest

“Capital is dead labor, which, vampire-like, lives only by sucking living labor, and lives the more, the more labor it sucks.” The German economist Karl Marx has defined Capitalism as an unfair system for people to live in. The worry of Karl Marx is that if our society were divided into two classes; the middle class who owned capital, factory and hired wage laborers; and workers, who were just common people that owned nothing at all. The fear of this system is that if it continues to circulates the middle class will eventually gain more money and the workers still working for them.

However, the original purpose of Capitalism is to get the hard working people to gain what they desired. The concept of “As you sow, so will you reap.” Even Karl Marx himself agreed on this work-gain concept.      

Many people questioned the existence of Capitalism. Criticisms have long stigmatized it to corruption, bribery and the method to oppress the poor. The truth, however, is that without Capitalism there will be no competition at all, simply because everyone is distributed with the same rewards. Therefore, there is no motive for people to strive hard because no matter you are hard working or lazy you will eventually be the same. Think for a moment that if everyone has a job then we do not have the burden of taking care of the poor and everyone could be able to feed themselves. As a result, we can conclude that the Capitalism itself is originally with proper purpose, but it is moral corruption that brought it to failure.

Take Singapore for example, the country had successfully transformed itself from a British colonial port city into one of the world’s financial center. According to Dr Harold Siow Song Teng, a Research Fellow and Administrative Manager at the Centre on Asia, he argues in his book Government Policy and Critical Success Factors of Small Businesses in Singapore that “one of the main economic players responsible for Singapore’s economic success is its small and medium-sized enterprises or SMEs. Their overall success has helped propel the country and its people forward. From economic policies to politics, Singapore is a planned and regulated economy. Singapore’s economic success story is actually the result of a form of capitalism carefully calibrated and controlled by the government.” Now think for a minute if it not because a person wants to gain more money and not because a person is benefited with the amount of work he devoted, how could Singapore be called the head of the four Asian dragons.  

Moreover, he continues to claim that “An important element or aspect of good critical success factors (CSFs) emerges from the role being played by the government. The existence of good government or public policies that are pro-business is vital for the success of firms”. Singapore enforced strict laws that punishes whoever deviate the right path toward righteous. For example, if there happened to be any forms of bribery or moral corruption severe punishments such as life imprisonment would be enforced.

In the end, the statistics had proved Singapore to be the world’s financial center. It is simply due to the severe laws that supervised the government’s performance. Moral corruption is a dangerous thing that leads to destructions. However, if we found ways to overcome it the result will be beneficial.   

        

References:

Harold Siow Song Teng “Government Policy and Critical Success Factors of Small Businesses in Singapore” Nov 2011      http://www.c-s-p.org/flyers/Government-Policy-and-Critical-Success-Factors-of-Small-Businesses-in-Singapore1-4438-3352-5.htm

Reflection (1)

Group Reflections

1.      Tony & Alison

This group is focusing on the topic of human flesh search. However, they struggled to come with an argument to debate with each other. I think it is because they find it hard to associate their issue with the category of Politic and Economy. In class we tried to help them to come up with some idea. Each group was asked to provide them with some suggestions. In the end we came up with some idea that they can work with. Our group provides them with a suggestion that they can associate their issue of human flesh search with the national law. What it means is that just like ordinary crime cases a suspect is protected by the law, which as long as they are not convicted to a crime he should not be called a criminal. The reason for this to happen is to protect the privacy of investigation and the privacy of the suspect. Moreover, the professor provides them with some Mikhail Bakhtin's carnivalesque theory to help them think for their argument. 

2.      Phoebe & Niki

This group is focusing on the topic of show girls. The argument was based on whether it is suitable to have such a profession. In both of the annotation 2 we can see clearly the standing point of each side. Your group provides the reader a strong and persuasive point. However, this group suffered to start with a political and economic view toward the issue. The professor asked them to collect information from the category of politics and economy. I think they can think show girls as a kind of commodity and use the aspect of economy to start a new argument.     

3.      Vivian & Lisa

This group is also focusing on the topic of developing economy as our group does. I think this group provides more persuasive arguments than ours. They collect various professional information and sources to be organized in their annotation. I think they had done it very well. Moreover, their points are clear and their arguments are clear. They know exactly what they are going to debate with one and another.

4.      Tim C & Tim K

Actually I don’t have any clues about what your group is doing until this group meeting. After the meeting, however, I can easily recall your group’s point. I think your group managed well with your sources and had organized it well in your annotation. Moreover, your idea is persuasive and provided with fortified evidences.

Self-Reflection

 Robert & Knot

I think our group had done pretty well so far. There is one problem though with me that sometimes my point was not straight enough. I tend to use more soft words than radical words which reduce the amount of persuasion. Moreover, sometimes our topic was not fully related to one another. However, there is something that deserved to be praised and that is our group uses our sources well that we are able to convince people with our annotation. The professor had given us advice that we should look for sources that not all from the internet. This will be the goal of our group in the future annotations. We will visit library to search for useful sources and discuss it together before start writing it to avoid off-topic.   

Annotation 2 (Revised)

In the previous annotation, I used the example of the Taiwan’s Ten Major Constructions as evidence to fortify my point. I mentioned that even in the worst of the situation one should never give up on developing economy. Although the public opinions maybe supporting the developing of social welfare than developing economy. One should never follow it blindly for it had proven by my annotation 1 as a false chose. Moreover, in this annotation I am going to discuss how costly it would be if we refuse to embrace economy development.

What is the difference between locking ourselves from the outside world and committing a suicide? Refusing to take Economy development is no different than the frog in the well that knows nothing of the great ocean. With the expansion of the ASEAN 10+1 proposal and the signing of various FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between different countries; the Taiwanese government should take concern on how to avoid our economy to become isolated from the world. If not the consequences will result in the unemployment rate and the social welfares of the public. According to National Policy Foundation, the websites cites that if the Taiwanese government refused to sign ECFA (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement), then we will have to endure the heavy customs in trade while other FTA signed countries will be totally free of it. The condition will be even worse for Taiwan is not diplomatic recognized by other countries, therefore, make it hard to get into advantages in cooperation.       

Articles had been written and comments being made to warn the citizens of Taiwan the danger of signing ECFA (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement). According to Professor Kenneth S. Lin of the department of economics at National Taiwan University, he says in his blog that the signing of ECFA means the decrease of job opportunities and the increase of unemployment rate. He says, though, the Taiwanese government reassure that the Chinese labors will not be imported; the unlimited flow of money and techniques will eventually corrupt the current boundary and raise unemployment rate. It is because companies tend to manufacture their product with the greatest profit as possible. However, I am against to the professor’s thought. I think that even with great risk we should not lock ourselves up. It is inevitable for countries to survive outside of this global bond. If we do then we will be like North Korea which suffers in poverty and famine.

 Moreover, if we use the economic term “comparative advantage” to strengthen our point, we will see that it suggests that since the world had turned into a global village, it is profitable for the company then to search for places that require the less demands on customs. With this restriction in mind, countries outside of this hub-spoke game will be eliminated. As a result, companies may be forced to move to another country, factories may be shut down and the happiness of the people will be deprived.   

In recent years the role of China had transformed from World Factory to World Market. It is inevitable to make trade and cooperation with China. Moreover, the arising economic potential of the south eastern Asia had also attracted many investors and countries to invest. Therefore, I think it is urgent and necessary for the Taiwanese government to sign ECFA. To be frank, the worries about signing ECFA will affect the traditional industrial such as agricultures will not to be worried. For I think it is normal for the traditional industries to face such challenge. The solution on the other hand will not be how to protect them but how to help them transform into a more modern type. It is then better to come out of our own cage and face the fact that cooperate with other countries will be the future trend. Following this concept and you will eventually be satisfied.    

Sources:

http://www.npf.org.tw/post/2/7761

http://kslintw.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/%E5%8F%8D%E5%B0%8Decfa-9%E5%A4%A7%E7%90%86%E7%94%B1/ 

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%AD%B8%E8%80%85-%E6%95%88%E7%9B%8A%E6%87%89%E6%AA%A2%E8%A6%96-%E4%BD%86%E6%B2%92ecfa-%E5%87%BA%E5%8F%A3%E6%9B%B4%E5%B7%AE-152345975.html

http://tw.news.yahoo.com/ecfa%E6%95%88%E7%9B%8A%E4%B8%8D%E5%A6%82%E9%A0%90%E6%9C%9F-%E6%B0%91%E7%9C%BE%E7%84%A1%E6%84%9F-122559433.html

Annotation 2

What is the difference between locking ourselves from the outside world and committing a suicide? Refusing to take Economy development is no different than the frog in the well that knows nothing of the great ocean. With the expansion of the ASEAN 10+1 plan and the signing of various FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between different countries; the Taiwanese government should take concern on how to avoid our economy to become isolated from the world. If not the consequences will result in the unemployment rate and the social welfares of the public. According to National Policy Foundation, the websites cites that if the Taiwanese government refused to sign ECFA, then we will have to face the heavy customs in trade while other FTA signed countries will be totally free of it. The condition will be even worse for Taiwan is not diplomatic recognized by other countries, therefore, make it hard to get into advantages in cooperation.       

There have been many articles written and comments being made to warn the citizens of Taiwan that the signing of ECFA (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement) will result in disaster. According to Professor Kenneth S. Lin of the department of economics at National Taiwan University, he says that the signing of ECFA means the decrease of job opportunities and the increase of unemployment rate. He says, though, the Taiwanese government reassure that the Chinese labors will not be imported; the unlimited flow of money and techniques will eventually corrupt the current boundary and raise unemployment rate. However, the economics term comparative advantage suggests that since the world had turned into a global village, it is profitable for the company then to search for places that require the less demands on customs. With this restriction in mind, countries outside of this hub-spoke game will be eliminated. As a result, companies may be forced to move to another country, factories may be shut down and the happiness of people will decline.   

In recent years the role of China had transformed from World Factory to World Market. It is inevitable to make trade and cooperation with China. Moreover, the arising economic potential of the south eastern Asia had also attracted many investors and countries to invest. Therefore, I think it is urgent and necessary for the Taiwanese government to sign ECFA. To be frank, the worries about signing ECFA will affect the traditional industrial such as agricultures will not to be worried. For I think it is normal for the traditional industries to face such challenge. The solution on the other hand will not be how to protect them but how to help them transform into a more modern type. It is then better to come out of our own cage and face the fact that cooperate with other countries will be the future trend. Following this concept and you will eventually be satisfied.