Absurd! Legislator Criticizes President, Draws Ire

A sharp political dispute has erupted in Taiwan after a legislator drew a controversial comparison between President Lai Ching-te and a beloved local philanthropist. Legislator Weng Yu-ling of the Kuomintang party took to social media to question why Lai, despite earning millions, could not personally fund the purchase of mooncakes for disadvantaged groups.

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It's absurd. The most absurd thing is not that Lai Ching-te can't afford mooncakes, but that someone cut the budget and then asked the affected people why they don't pay themselves.

Weng contrasted Lai's perceived inaction with the long-standing charitable contributions of "vegetable grandma" Chen Shu-chu, who has donated over NT$10 million from her modest earnings. The legislator suggested that a comparison of their charitable spirit would reveal a stark difference.

However, the remarks quickly drew fierce criticism. "Goddess of the Nation" Liang Yun-fei, a public figure, lambasted Weng's comments as "absurd." Liang argued that conflating national governance with private charity is misguided. She powerfully critiqued Weng's stance, likening it to "dismantling a bridge and then asking why people can't swim."

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If he truly wanted to do charity, buying mooncakes out of his own pocket would not be difficult.

Liang emphasized that government procurement of goods, such as mooncakes from sheltered workshops, serves to support vulnerable employment and institutional operations. This, she stated, is fundamentally different from a presidential act of personal charity. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about the role of government and personal responsibility in social welfare.

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She dismantled the bridge herself and then asked why everyone else couldn't swim.