[laretluval]

> The issue is deeply rooted in local power-wielding elites conspiring or opposing the ruling government. It has nothing to do democracy.

Seems like democracy would make this problem worse, since it redistributes power to local informal power elites.

[kobeya]

Taiwan is a democracy, and has been for some time. Not sure what you're saying here?

[bilbo0s]

Taiwan is a "democracy", just a deeply corrupt one.

[dis-sys]

Calling Taiwan a democracy is like labelling the Culture Revolution a democratic movement.

When elderly Chinese who actually experienced the terrible Culture Revolution go to visit Taiwan, many of them had the feeling that Taiwan make them feel young again as they saw the Culture Revolution again in Taiwan.

Endless street politics for every single change to the society, hugely divided society, corruption from both sides, people are forced to pick which side is less terrible rather than which is better, President democratically elected used its official jet to move cash to foreign countries.

Personally, I don't want such toxic Taiwan to be integrated back to China, they can run their own circus on that island so people in the mainland can look at them and learn from their mistakes.

[imron]

Sounds like you've been getting all your Taiwan news from 新闻联播.

Taiwan is nothing like what you said, and to compare it to Cultural Revolution China is just ridiculous.

[FabHK]

Disagree. In a functioning democracy, you have less entrenchment of power elites.

[echevil]

While democracy alone makes no such promise. If majority of people votes for entrenchment of power elites, that's what you get from democracy