In a November issue of Topics, Dr. Richard R. Vuylsteke writes that the best political leaders both inform and shape public opinion.

Topics is an AmCham journal.

"One of the more significant requirements for strengthening Taiwan's social, political and economic status by the year 2020 will be the rise of leaders who do more than just shape public opinion," stresses Dr. Vuylsteke, who has submitted his resignation as AmCham executive director, effective Feb. 22 next year.

Then he will leave for Hong Kong to head the American Chamber of Commerce in the former British crown colony.

The past seven years have witnessed an unhealthy -- and often unseemly -- evolution of leadership that pursues cross-faction and cross-party rhetorical vendettas, sows unnecessarily disruptive ethnic discord, and exhibits a profound pettiness of personal interaction that has soured the public image of political factional and party leaders, Dr. Vuylsteke notes.

"Nasty innuendo, false and unsubstantiated claims, bogus statistics, and a seemingly endless string of legally frivolous lawsuits dominate media reporting on current leaders and their interactions," Dr. Vuylsteke points out.

Political leaders have made little effort to cultivate public understanding of critical issues that seriously affect public welfare and economic well-being, Dr. Vuylsteke goes on. They have failed to make research and reflection to substantively address issues that worry the man in the street.

Informing the public is easy for leaders when they stick with warm and fuzzy generalizations; it is difficult when hard facts indicate the need for tough decisions and near-term public sacrifice.The American business executive cites sewage treatment as example. Currently, Taiwan has a 16.68 percent level of household connectivity to sewage treatment island-wide. The policy goal is to increase it to 22.1 percent by 2012. By comparison, South Korea's coverage currently stands at 87 percent. Taiwan's shortfall compared with its neighbor is unconscionable.

"Real leadership, at both municipal and national levels, would take on this issue -- informing the public of the threat this appalling state of affairs poses in terms of drinking-water safety and disease control, plus its potential negative impact for the development of water sports, fishing, and other recreational activities along river and ocean shorelines," the commentary says.

Meanwhile, social and economic opportunities are being stunted because of inattention to a basic infrastructural requirement found in any advanced society.

"Yet when politicians are asked about the feasibility of even a slight increase in sewage treatment taxes, they assert that the public will never stand for it and they'll be voted out of office if they try to make any changes," Dr. Vuylsteke emphasizes.

Of course, he continues, "no one likes taxes, but when they are necessary to public health and safety, and bring social and economic benefits as well, leaders should build public understanding in support of what needs to be done."

This requires articulating a long-range vision of the benefits to the public -- a vision that moves beyond soft generalizations to specific deliberables that make practical sense and stimulate public acceptance and even enthusiasm.

It requires complex implementation plans, including a realistic balance sheet that matches costs with funding from private-sector investment, taxation, or other government funding sources.

"Leaders," Dr. Vuylsteke urges, "need to develop public support for change based upon detailed and reliable information. This also requires convincing the public to accept current sacrifices for the sake of future benefits."

The overarching issue of the need for improved sewage treatment has been insufficiently marketed to the public, he laments.

The reason is that sewage treatment is not as visible as parks and bikeways, Dr. Vuylsteke analyzes. "Out of sight, thus out of mind."

He points out: "The quality of leadership will be integral to determining Taiwan's status in 2020. Will leaders emerge who match their abilities in shaping public opinion with a dedication to doing their homework on solid issues of national importance?"

"Will they master the facts, articulate long-term vision, and exhibit the political will necessary to garner public support for policies that have genuine impact on Taiwan's social, political, and economic health?"

If the answer is yes, Dr. Vuylsteke concludes, then everyone can expect a substantially different set of priorities and modes of political action from the testy and often superficial discourse that characterizes so much of today's political scene.