A regressive trend has recently emerged in Taiwan politics. Two indicators are the slogan by the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to launch 'a second rural siege against cities' and a remark by the party's chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen that the Republic of China government is 'a government in exile.' It was 21 years ago when the DPP first came up with the battle cry of 'local governments laying siege against the central government.' Meanwhile, Tsai's 'government in exile' comment, is a thousand times more backward than former President Lee Teng-hui's statement in 1994 that the Kuomintang was an 'alien regime.' There are several reasons why Taiwan's democracy has not progressed. First, the greens are reluctant to abandon the politically expedient strategy of playing on ethnic differences, which has continued to engender hate and conflict in local politics. Second, the blues have failed to clear up the doubts expressed by the green camp and have been dancing to the greens' tune, which repeatedly takes our society back to its starting point. Third, democratic politics in Taiwan has been reduced to nothing more than 'elections.' After two peaceful transition of power from one political party to another, it is depressing to hear politicians still chanting hackneyed slogans. (June 8, 2010) 