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Updated Wednesday, December 10, 2008 10:08 am TWN, By Dr. William Fang, Special to The China Post

Barack Obama could be another Ma Ying-jeou

So far, U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has won wide acclaim for his nominees to important government posts. However, the Washington Post pointed out on Dec. 7 that most of these appointees come from either Ivy League universities or other top-notch schools of higher learning. The paper said such academic elitism may turn out to be a risky factor in politics. In Taiwan, it has already plagued the government of President Ma Ying-jeou, who, like Obama, is a graduate of Harvard Law School. Ma’s popularity has sunk to the lowest point. The general characteristics of those considered to be a society’s elite may be summarized as follows:

1. They are intelligent, smart and knowledgeable but often lack sound judgment, which comes with rich experience and repeated tests by trials of life.

2. Despite their politeness and seeming modesty, deep down they are proud, arrogant and self-confident, with the result it is hard for them to accept opinions different from theirs. They trust and listen only to a small group of people who happen to have the same personality, background and ideology.

3. Because of their superior education and intelligence, they tend to think in such a sophisticated manner that it often unwisely complicates problems.

4. Many of their ideas are too lofty to be practical.

5. Since most have smooth careers, they loath failure and strive to avoid it as much as possible. As a result, they are often over-cautious and too conservative in meeting the challenge of changes and new and abrupt twists and turns of events.

President John F. Kennedy, also a Harvard graduate, recruited a large number of highly educated scholars to serve in his government, but his reputation was damaged by the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, the missile crisis and involvement in the Vietnam War.

Ruling a country like the United States, which is the most powerful nation in the world, is much more difficult than any person can imagine. Consider the case of President Ma, who has the experience of managing the largest city in Taiwan, but still has not been able to live up to public expectations as the supreme leader of Taiwan. There is the possibility that Obama may share the same fate as Ma.

However, the fact the U.S. president-elect has the courage to appoint Sen. Hillary Clinton, an ambitious and talented politician with a strong personality, as secretary of state demonstrates his desire and ability to be a successful supreme leader. The whole world will watch closely what will happen after Obama is inaugurated.

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