Posted May. 10, 2001 11:16,
It should be called `Blind of Public Sentiment` if the leaders of the ruling coalition can read the mind of the public even at this level. Any politician who acknowledges the weary life of the ordinary people who are suffering financial hardship, not even having a time to enjoy the beautiful spring weather, can not hold such a dazzling golf party.
If they might have felt a little sympathy for the voices of despair, how could those politicians brag about receiving expensive golf clubs that are valued over 10 – 20 million won.
It is very questionable if they did pay for those expenses for golf game and other prizes, including imported golf clubs, golf shoes, and high priced foreign liquors such as Johnny Walker Blue.
Looking back to the notorious history of Korean politicians and the DJ administration which stubbornly sticks to its own opinion without paying attention to criticism, there is nothing new of the `blindness` among the leaders of the ruling coalition.
Only ten days before the golf party, the ruling New Millennium Democratic Party (NMDP) lost the 4.26 re-election and by-election even with their political base Cholla area. The collective abstention to reject the nonconfidence motion against the Prime Minister Lee Han-dong, `a hand method to be recorded in the constitutional history,` occurred only 7 days before. It’s like `a seeking fish in a tree` to expect the politicians to recognize the public sentiments.
Rather than to pay attention to the voices of public criticism, the ruling coalition daily updates the method of foul plays, shortcuts, and even illegality ignoring the rules of parliamentary democracy. A lightning pass of a bill is just classic. Last November, NMDP introduced a new tactic to block the impeachment against the Public Prosecutor General, Park Soon-yong. NMDP blocked the way of the President of the National Assembly who was a member of the party, who was trying to enter into the plenary session. Borrowing representatives is also the most unique skill. Those abnormal tactics have been continuously developed and therefore it is curious what other surprise the party will introduce.
The leaders of the ruling coalition should recognize that they had gone against the public sentiment. The ruling party must give up its attachment to the doctrine of victory for victories sake. There is no need to waste all its energy to develop shameful new tactics.
Chung Dae-chol, a member of the Supreme council of NMDP, gave a bitter comment, ``The ruling party has to accept the possibility of losing the vote.`` However, the ruling party does not even accept its defeat. Moreover, the party insists that it was not defeated in any sense of the word. After crushing defeat of 4.26 re-election and by-election, a high official of Cheongwadae seemed to admit the defeat of the ruling party, but he added, ``the defeat does not equate a judgment for the public against overall administration of the President.`` The high official insisted that there was no legal violation concerning the block of the impeachment of the Prime minister.
NMDP’s absorption in their victory prevented them from paying any attention to others. The political situation is irritating and suffocating. It is so stressful for the people to observe. To be free from the stress, the party should learn how to lose. Park Young-suk, the chairperson of the Korean Association of Parents-in-Laws, is leading a movement to raise children to learn how to lose. She says that the movement is to free children from stress and the children who practice how to lose will eventually live successful life.
Now it is time for the political circles to learn how to lose. It would be much better if the President Kim Dae-jung stands at the front line of this movement. And it would be much more harmonious if Lee Hoi-chang, another obstinate President of the Grand National Party, would stand side by side on the line. That is the only way for both of them to win the race and finally, then people could move forward with the winners.