On March 5, the Kuomintang's "Personal good wishes for the New Year--new spring, a new spirit, and new hopes" activities came to an end. The activities--a series of speeches--opened all over the island on February 19. There were 24 separate events, with 76 per sons, including leaders from all levels of government, academics, elected representatives, and people from the arts and entertainment. The locations varied from lecture halls in urban areas to cultural centers in small towns to schools and train station plazas.

Why the travelling? Aside from trying to win votes for the year-end elections, what other purpose was there?

"Mainly to utilize outstanding party members to tell the local members and the people: What are we doing? What are we pursuing?" says John Kuan, Director of the KMT Organization Department. Through face to face participation with the people, the ruling party also hoped to go a step further in keeping in touch with public opinion.

Given the popular expectations, the activities opened with a surge, and, not unexpectedly, generated a magnificent response. On February 19 the activities in Tainan County crowded in 40,000 people. The smallest turnout was 3,000 in Taipei County.

The backgrounds of these "ambassadors of persuasion" were all different. The contents of their discussions were not entirely the same, but most expanded from their personal experience.

For example: Legislator Lee Sheng-feng, in the assembly held in Tainan on February 19, pointed out that the many disputes which have recently occurred in the legislature were played out according to a "script" made between the KMT and the Democratic Progressive Party. He asked the "audience" not to worry. As for legislators who are too old, he hoped that people would actively send them postcards asking them to retire.

Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the cabinet-level Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission, who has helped plan mainland policy, said that when he went to his high school reunion, he was the only one at his table who hadn't been to the mainland, making it evident that the people are enthusiastic about the policy of liberalizing visits there. But he reminded everyone not to have too idealistic a view of the mainland. "Before you embrace one billion people, please first embrace 20 million," he said.

John H. Chang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, said he received a report by a German bank about the world investment situation and political stability: Taiwan was ranked fourth, even above the U.S. It is evident that Taiwan has limitless hope.

Minister of Justice Hsiao Tien-tsan, at a speech in Tainan on February 26, stated that democracy is the flower and rule of law the root. Disobedience of the law is like a train leaving the tracks--there will be a wreck. He hoped everyone would work with him to make society more tranquil and more prosperous.

While government and elected officials explained important policies, media people talked from their personal experiences and used emotional appeals.

The TV host Liu Hsiao-mei called on people to seek not only wealth, but also morality. The movie star Sun Yue noted that in recent years he has spent a lot of time and energy on serving society. Why? Because Taiwan doesn't lack anything except loving hearts. Film personality Lu Hsiao-fen, in a speech at her home, Chung-ho, called for stability, and said things should not get chaotic.

Whatever the approach, with these activities, the ruling party also stirred up considerable discussion.

Many critics argued that many government officials participated in these events, creating the suspicion that there is no separation between party and government. But the Organization Department, which held the events, argued that so-called government officials have a clear dividing line. Political officials are tied together with the ruling party, and there is nothing wrong with them aiding in party election activities.

What caused more dispute was the participation of "technocrats" with civil service standing. National Taiwan University Professor of Political Science Hu Fo noted that in a democracy, political officials must compete for votes. But officials in charge of day-to-day affairs have administrative responsibilities and should maintain transcendence.

Many government officials practiced their Taiwanese hard before speaking, and clearly "using Mandarin was not as effective as using Taiwanese." But many felt that the contents did not take enough into account local matters.

But others believe that the ruling party did not do badly. Lin Chia-cheng, Professor of Sociology at Soochow University noted that among the speakers were often those with great influence on policy, showing the ruling party intends to mold itself into a competitive party and change its image as a dominant party.

Another commentator noted: "In the past, government officials set policy and rarely directly met with the people. This initiative is a manifestation of political responsibility, because in a democratic system, if the ruling party loses the people's hearts it cannot govern."

Whatever the effect of these events, there is one realization: it is necessary to have substantive views and know how to talk with the people. Only then can you win their hearts.

[Picture Caption]

"Going out to the countryside activities" had its moments not literally in the countryside: The photo is of the crowded March 4 event at the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.

"We want to tell everyone: What is the Kuomintang doing? What is it pursuing?" says John Kuan, Director of the Organization Department of the KMT.

The scene of the action at the General Athletic Fields in Chungho, Taipei County.

In fact, if the entrepreneur deals fairly, Filipino workers will be dedicated.