The following is a brief roundup of selected local newspaper editorials Thursday: COMMERCIAL TIMES What if 'unequitable taxation' was an option in poll on public grievances? Acting on Premier Wu Den-yi's directive, the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission (RDEC) recently conducted an online survey to identify the 'top 10 public grievances,' and found that exorbitant housing prices in urban areas was at the top of the list. However, the respondents were given 15 pre-selected options from which to chose, which means that the survey results might not be fully reflective of the whole picture. We wonder whether the main grievances would have been different if 'unequitable taxation' was included on the RDEC-proposed list. Unequitable taxation has been relatively less frequently discussed because tax issues can be very technical and the public tends be insufficiently informed about the details. Only through academic research papers have we learned that eight of the 40 richest people in Taiwan, who each had annual incomes of over NT$100 million in 2002, did not have to pay any income tax that year, and that average wage earners contribute more than 70 percent to the government's annual tax revenues. It was not until early this year when the government lowered the inheritance and gift tax rates to 10 percent that we realized only 5 percent of local taxpayers -- particularly the 200 most wealthy people who were originally subject to a 50 percent tax rate -- had benefited from the new measure. During a recent inspection tour of the Ministry of Finance, some Control Yuan members took ministry officials to task over the lowering of the inheritance and gift tax rate and what they said was the country's unusually low rate of capital gain tax. In our view, finance officials have failed to give any convincing explanations about the two issues. We are not opposed to the government's efforts to determine the main sources of public grievances through opinion polls. But we suggest that 'unequitable taxation' be included on the list next time such a survey is conducted. ECONOMIC DAILY NEWS: Policy initiatives most needed to rev up economy President Ma Ying-jeou has vowed to improve the macro environment after the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) suffered a setback in the Dec. 5 local elections. Ma also recognizes that 'revving up the economy' is an effective short-cut to improving the macro economy. If he wants such endeavors to help boost the KMT's showing in next year's elections of the mayors of the country's five municipalities, then his administration should present the meat of its policy incentives as soon as possible and take action with full vigor and urgency. However, there is irony in the government's budget plan for the coming year. At a time when most world powers are adopting expansion strategies to sustain economic growth in the wake of the year-long global recession, Taiwan seems to be joining the ranks of the first group of countries that have ended their stimulus measures. According to the 2010 budget plan, the government's regular budget and special budget will both fall short of this year's amounts, while public investment will also contract. If Taiwan does not want to see itself knocked out at a time when the global economy is on the track of slow recovery, the Ma administration should correct such flawed budget planning, come up with well-devised policy initiatives and act resolutely to accelerate economic growth. CHINA TIMES Legislative speaker's temper should have flared earlier The even-tempered Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng finally lost his cool Monday when opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers again paralyzed the legislature by besieging the speaker's podium to protest the government's decision to relax restrictions on U.S. beef imports. The DPP, which holds 27 of the legislature's 113 seats, has managed to disrupt legislative floor meetings for more than one month over the U.S. beef import issue. Wang angrily criticized the DPP legislators' boycott strategy, describing it as 'very, very inappropriate' and 'senseless.' Wang has reason to blast the DPP, but we must remind him that the ruling Kuomintang should also be blamed for the Legislature's poor efficiency. People on the street are entitled to ask why the KMT, with more than 90 legislative seats, has been unable to pass legislation that is critical to the implementation of the government's policies. Some KMT lawmakers like to ridicule President and KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou over what they call his incompetence, but they should be aware that one of the reasons behind Ma's fading popularity is his administration's inefficiency, as many of his policy initiatives and reform programs are shelved in the Legislature. If KMT lawmakers sit idly and let the DPP hold up the legislative proceedings over the beef trade issue, it will be a no-win situation for both parties. APPLE DAILY New appointment epitomizes Ma's reform commitment Ma's surprise appointment of his most trusted confidant, King Pu-tsung, as secretary-general of the ruling Kuomintang, sends a clear message that he will continue streamlining the KMT monolith in line with the principles of 'integrity and capability.' King and Ma share some common features in their characters. Both are characterized by a strong moral ethos, self-motivation and drive, and political cleanliness. King is a bit more smart and shrewd and takes comfort in playing the role of a behind-the-scenes strategist and adviser. Therefore, the duo have developed a close partnership. During Ma's tenure as Taipei mayor, King served as his door-guard in his capacity as deputy mayor, helping to steer away many filthy politicians and shady political deals and thereby allowing Ma to maintain his clean image. We are pleased to see that Ma remains committed to reforming the KMT after the party suffered its election setback. Should that continue to be the case, we hope Ma will delegate full power to King so that he can wipe out the party's old guard with their shady criminal backgrounds. UNITED DAILY NEWS Can King Pu-tsung change KMT culture? Some KMT lawmakers' strong reaction to Ma's appointment of King Pu-tsung as new KMT secretary-general signals how challenging and tough his new role will be. As the KMT once ruled Taiwan uninterruptedly for more than five decades until 2000, its ranks are rife with the 'sitting on a palanquin culture' -- with its politicians used to passively waiting for other people to pave the way for them to harvest their rewards and few willing to blaze a trail to explore new frontiers. Only if King, with his resourcefulness and activism, can infuse new spirit into the KMT apparatus, will Ma's pledge to overhaul the century-old party be realized. LIBERTY TIMES No-one is an idiot Premier Wu Den-yi is wrong to describe independence advocates as 'idiots.' The majority of Taiwanese people do not want to be unified with China and a series of public opinion surveys have repeatedly confirmed this. This is why the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou has to wrap up its ultimate goal of unifying Taiwan with China in the guise of signing a cross- strait economic cooperation framework agreement, which will eventually integrate both sides into a 'one China' market. With such a scenario looming, advocating independence is a wise and responsible strategy. According to the San Francisco Peace Treaty, Taiwan's sovereignty belongs to the people of Taiwan. Local people should stand up to safeguard this independent status quo and work even harder to make it a normal country. 