"Free Lectures" Can the ocean current loosen Taipei's political fundamentals?

Is Taipei’s political fundamentals really that unbreakable? For a long time, the political advantage accumulated by the Kuomintang in the capital has been regarded as difficult to shake. However, the political landscape is not monolithic. When new citizen forces begin to gather together, the election results that seemed certain in the past may also become uncertain.

Japanese scholar Ogasawara Yoshiyuki wrote an article on October 22, revising the previous judgment that Jiang Wanan's re-election was almost a foregone conclusion, pointing out that Shen Boyang is catching up quickly. According to a TVBS poll released on October 8, the gap between the two has narrowed to 8 percentage points from 28 percentage points in May. This does not mean a reversal of victory, but it shows that the political fundamentals are not unchallengeable.

"Ocean current streamers" are a phenomenon worth observing. On October 18, Taichung City Councilor Lin Qifeng prepared 3,000 streamers, and people arrived at the scene at 6 a.m. to wait. According to reports, 300 streamers in Pingtung were collected within 15 minutes. The community even has the interesting nickname of "streamer millionaire", which adds joy and recognition to political participation.

However, what really matters is not how many streamers are distributed, but whether this enthusiasm can transcend the stratosphere and attract young people, middle voters and politically apathetic people. Community voice does not equal votes, and the upsurge in participation does not mean that the political structure has changed.

Taipei’s political base has a profound historical background. After 1949, Taipei, as a political and administrative center, gradually formed a specific population structure, resource distribution and social network. The long-term accumulated institutional advantages, interest relationships and political identity cannot be changed by a campaign.

But all KMT supporters cannot be regarded as vested interests. Political choices also come from family, generations and life experience. To break through the existing structure, we cannot just rely on passion, but also need to propose specific policies for fair distribution, improvement of transportation, housing and living environment, so that voters can believe that change can bring a better life.

From the general recall in 2025 to this year’s ocean currents, citizen participation is accumulating new political experiences. Winning or losing an election is important, but organizational capabilities, social connections, and dialogue across positions are what sustain change.

Change does not happen in a day, and the political base is not a wall that can never be loosened.

Whether the ocean current can turn around or not remains to be answered by votes. But as long as every participation can leave trust, organization and public discussion, so that more silent citizens are willing to invest, the ocean current will not only be an election craze, but also the starting point for changing Taipei's political culture.