The sound of rising prices in Taiwan

We hate price hikes... No, wait!

The administration of Taiwan's new president Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has been trying to place the blame for the rapid price hikes that are overwhelming the nation on the administration of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁). But anyone who was paying attention should remember the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) demands for the DPP to freeze prices while using campaign banners such as this:


A campaign banner from before Ma Ying-jeou was elected
Translation: "The price of rice, gas/oil, flour, pork, tissue... up! up! UP!
Folks, can you endure it?
It's time to change the ruling party. (#2) As president, Ma will immediately fight for the economy.
Kaohsiung City Councilor Chen Li-nah implores you."
Note: Chen Li-nah (陳麗娜) has connections to KMT vote buying.

Do you see yet another KMT double standard here?

An inadvertant pun for Ma Ying-jeou
Onstage at Ma's inauguration party at the Taipei Arena (小巨蛋) -- dressed entirely in blue -- 1970s chanteuse Fong Fei-fei (鳳飛飛) performed 「掌聲響起」 (zhǎngshēng xiǎngqǐ) "The Sound of Applause Erupts"). A rather fitting pun on the title changes the characters to 「漲聲響起」 (zhǎngshēng xiǎngqǐ): "The Sound of Rising Prices Erupts." I should credit blogger "kusotare," who uploaded a recording of the tune accompanied by video of the shockingly-long gas lines at 5 locations in Sanchong (三重) on Tuesday:


【影片】08.05.27 馬英九無預警宣布汽油漲價當晚@三重(5處加油站)
Translation: (Video clip) May 27, 2008, The night Ma Ying-jeou's gov't announced the gas price hike without warning

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Beacons of one thing or another: Taiwan, 台灣, Ma Ying-jeou, 馬英九, gas prices, 油價

Cross-posted at It's Not Democracy, It's A Conspiracy!