◎ Xie Mingjie
Looking at Shen Boyang's recent election, a thought suddenly came to my mind: Is it possible for this person to become a leader that both blue and green are willing to trust in the future?
The words "blue and green co-owner" are a bit big. If I say it out loud, some people will inevitably think that I think too far. The election has not yet been voted in, the mayor has not even been elected, and we are starting to talk about this.
Please read on...
Is it possible for Shen Boyang, the Taipei mayoral candidate of the Democratic Progressive Party, to become a leader that both blue and green are willing to trust? (File photo) But I did see the possibility.
According to Dai Li'an's poll released on September 22, Jiang Wanan's support was 41.7%, and Shen Boyang's was 40.5%, with a gap of only 1.2 percentage points.
My imagination goes a little further than this number. I began to think about whether there is any chance for a person who has been placed under a distinct political label for a long time to make people willing to transcend that label and get to know him again.
Taiwan’s elections have a habit that we are all familiar with: first look at the color, and then decide whether to listen to what he has to say.
If the person on your side says something wrong, there are always some difficulties. If the person on the opposite side says something right, there may be other motives.
Over time, everyone develops a pair of good ears and can identify friends and foes from a distance of 800 meters, but they may not be able to hear clearly what the other party said.
Therefore, the really difficult breakthrough for a politician is to make people who originally didn't want to listen to him start to want to listen.
Only if you are willing to listen can you understand, and only after understanding can you have the opportunity to identify.
One day, someone said, "His political stance is different from mine, but I think what he said makes sense." A crack appeared in the blue-green wall.
This is what I expect from Shen Boyang.
Huang Qinglong (left), founding chairman of the Trustees Association, and Dai Li'an (right), a polling expert, held the first polling press conference for the Taipei mayoral election on September 22. (File photo) In my opinion, his professionalism and reasoning ability deserve to be tested on a larger public stage. If he can explain complex issues clearly, connect political opinions to people's daily lives, and let people understand how these things relate to their work, children, and old age, then there is a chance that the people he can reach will exceed the group that originally supported him.
A person may like you because you have a similar stance, or he may gradually be willing to trust you because you handle things well. The latter kind of trust is often harder to obtain and more weighty.
Of course, there is still a long way to go from being disappointed with the incumbent to trusting the challenger.
Voters may turn their votes over because of dissatisfaction, but in order to keep this vote, Shen will eventually have to show his ability.
In a democratic society, no one needs to be supported by everyone, let alone someone who no one can criticize.
What I imagine is someone who can make people from different camps agree that this person is capable and principled, and that even if I don't vote for him, he will still treat me fairly.
There is still a long way to go from being disappointed with the incumbent to trusting the challenger. The picture shows Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan (left) and Yin Wei (right), chairman of the research and examination committee. (File photo) This is a deep sense of security.
You don't have to show your support first to be eligible for care.
If you criticize, you won't be treated as an enemy.
Your streets should be repaired, so they should be repaired. If your life is difficult, the government still has to find ways to do what it can.
Only when politics reaches this point can the people have enough time to lower their shoulders.
And if a person with a clear stance can do these things, he will be extremely valuable to the people.
He must have his own direction and be able to tolerate the voices of others. Ability to persuade supporters and willingness to tolerate their displeasure.
Because fairness sometimes means that you have to protect the same rights for people you don't like.
This is the truly difficult path for leaders to walk.
Can Shen Boyang get there? No one can guarantee him now.
Election campaigns will amplify a person's charm, and power will also test a person's essence. Saying beautiful words in the face of applause, and still adhering to principles in the face of interests, pressure, and mistakes are two different tests.
Politicians must have their own direction and be able to tolerate the voices of others. Ability to persuade supporters and willingness to tolerate their displeasure. (Taken from the post) I am willing to look forward to him and continue to see what he does.
Because the future I want to see is that more and more people can say frankly: "I didn't support you before, but now I think you deserve a chance."
You can also say after voting: "Lin Bei's vote was not in vain."
There are already too many people in Taiwan who know how to make people in their own camp more excited. In fact, people from two opposing camps can let down their guard and engage in dialogue. Such people are the true co-owners.
I saw this possibility in Shen Boyang.
As for whether it can come true, history will write the answer for him every time he makes a choice and every responsibility he takes.
The 2026 Taipei mayoral election continues to heat up. A true co-owner can allow people from the two opposing camps to let down their guard and talk. The picture shows veteran media person Li Siduan (left) interviewing DPP Taipei mayoral candidate Shen Boyang (right). (Taken from YouTube) (The author is a writer)
This article is reproduced from Xie Mingjie’s Facebook with permission
