改善投資環境、為民眾創造就業機會、為在全球化的經濟環境中沒有擠身贏者圈的民眾提供協助是現代國家的政府的天職(上)

改善投資環境、為民眾創造就業機會、為在全球化的經濟環境中沒有擠身贏者圈的民眾提供協助是現代國家的政府的天職(上)

(本文篇幅不短，不習慣閱讀英文的朋友、鄉親與同志們請把英文文章跳過，但英文文章中有漢文重點翻譯的段落則不要跳過)

一

近年來，我們看到美國的經濟發展遲滯、國債高築、國家財政赤字達到天文數字、金融體制一度接近紅色警界線、兩黨的政治鬥爭極為緊張、貧富極為懸殊，也看到若干歐洲國家(即所謂的「歐豬國家」，PIGS，包括葡萄牙、義大利、希臘與西班牙)經濟發展遲滯、財政陷入危機、國債高築、社會安全制度破產、社會福利制度無以為繼、極右或反猶勢力興起，甚至有的國家(如匈牙利)開始走向威權，開始歌頌 「北京共識」(Beijing Consensus，中國的經濟與政治發展模式)，摒棄「華盛頓共識」(Washington Consensus，美國的經濟與政治發展模式)。

雖然中國的經濟發展模式已有很嚴重的問題，隨時有泡沫化或崩潰之虞，雖然中國的政治極為腐敗、貧富極度懸殊、社會極為不穩定、中共的統治及對社會的控制隨時可能解體，但北京仍然相信並宣稱它的威權政治與腐敗的裙帶資本主義及經濟體系是有效的、能繼續帶來成長的經濟發展模式，一些跟北京一樣的邪惡帝國或流氓政權也相信，正在強化它們的「北京共識」，匈牙利就是這樣的國家，它開始墮落，逐漸走向「北京共識」的不歸路。

二

台灣建州運動堅信，我們必須一方面奉行「美國價值」，堅持走自由、民主、人權、法治的道路，但我們另一方面也認為「改善投資環境、為民眾創造就業機會(包括可以擠身中產階級的工作機會)、為在全球化的經濟環境中沒有晉身贏者圈或淪為輸家的民眾提供協助」是現代國家各級政府的天職 。

這種理念、信念與堅持被我們寫進「台灣建州黨的黨綱: 我們的承諾」中，我們現在把有關的條款再度張貼於下:

“PLATFORM OF THE FORMOSA STATEHOOD PARTY:
OUR PROMISES AND COMMITMENTS “(台灣建州黨的黨綱: 我們的承諾)

Preamble(序言)

WHEREAS the future and the security of Taiwan, the sustainability of Taiwan, frameworks of liberty and democracy, implementations of human and civil rights, rule of law, civic culture, clean government and good governance, civilization and progress, economic development and prosperity (經濟的發展與繁榮), the improvement of the environment for investment, the promotion and upgrading of individual and collective competitive edges, creation of jobs (就業機會的創造), improvement on the living conditions, enlargement of tax bases (稅基的擴大), social stability (社會的穩定), the public good, fairness and justice (公平與正義), support for disadvantaged ethnic groups and classes (對弱勢族群與階級的扶持) , the pursuit of happiness, upward mobility(社會階級的自由流動), and the control and reduction of public deficits ARE the main concerns and key values we treasure most;

IN ORDER TO advance the values mentioned above; and

IN ORDER TO advance the interests and promote the happiness of the people on Taiwan;

WE, therefore, enter the following commitments into our PARTY PLATFORM, hoping ALL PARTY MEMBERS will strive to appeal to all the residents of Taiwan, former Taiwanese residents who emigrated overseas, and the American people, and seek their support for our cause.
ARTICLE I: SETTLEMENT OF THE FUTURE OF TAIWAN

ARTICLE II: ESTABLISHMENT OF A WIDE BASE OF SUPPORT

ARTICLE III: PUBLIC POLICY (1)公共政策

ARTICLE IV: PUBLIC POLICY (2) 公共政策

Section 402

We promise to improve Taiwan's infrastructure, offer incentives for investments, and establish healthy financial market mechanisms, in order to keep funds from flowing outward; keep foreign capital coming in; facilitate investments in Taiwan; create employment opportunities for all classes, genders, and age brackets (為所有的階級性別以及年齡層創造就業機會); consolidate and expand the tax base; and reduce the number of people who must rely on social-welfare payments (減少必須依賴社會福利維生的人口).

Section 403

We promise to help improve individual productivity, to deploy the workforce rationally, and to protect employment opportunities for senior citizens who are able and willing to work, in order to reduce the negative impact on younger generations and thus reduce the temptation to use a higher birth rate to sustain the older portion of the population. Taiwan is geographically small, and cannot sustain quality of life for all people unless population is in balance with resources, and the environment is preserved.

Section 404

We promise to offer incentives and protections, including but not limited to exemption from dual taxation and facilitation of international schools, to Taiwanese entrepreneurs who set up headquarters for transnational enterprises in Taiwan (鼓勵設立跨國企業的台灣企業家在台灣設立總部), in order to create jobs for people on Taiwan, and help consolidate and expand the tax base for the Taiwanese government.

Section 406

We promise to offer help to Taiwanese enterprises and individuals, in enhancing their
competitiveness in global commerce and the transnational job market. (協助台灣的企業與個人，增強它們、他們或她們在世界市場或就業市場的競爭力)

Section 407

We promise to set up fair taxation and other systems to reduce invidious discrepancies in wealth to a morally acceptable range.

Section 408

We promise to protect the economic interests of disadvantaged individuals, urban and rural, and to promote the economic well-being of all persons and groups, including but not limited to minorities, the underclass, lower-salaried classes, laborers, peasants, single-parent families, and the so-called new poor class.

Section 410

We promise to protect the social welfare system and social security system, assist people who are unable to enjoy the same benefits as others in a globalized and deregulated market system, in order to maintain a harmonious and stable social order.

Section 421

We promise, during the transition period and even after Taiwan becomes a State of the United States , to offer bilingual services in public sectors to help civil servants and elected officials to function smoothly and effectively, and protect their jobs and rights.

Section 427

We pledge to accept nothing less, in our agreements with the U.S. Government, than completely tariff-free entry of goods and services from Taiwan to all territories under the jurisdiction of the United States of America, to the benefit of Taiwan 's businesses and workforce.

Section 428

We promise to urge the U.S. Government to use its diplomatic and trade representatives to assist Taiwan 's farmers, fishermen, ranchers, and aquaculturists in expanding their opportunities worldwide. (促使美國政府協助台灣的農漁牧業產品外銷)

Section 430

We promise to offer assistance to unemployed white and blue collar workers adversely impacted by globalized and deregulated economic policies, including help in finding new jobs and job training; grants of low-interest loans to start new small businesses and to finance their dependents' education; giving them a grace period for paying housing loans; offering health-insurance subsidies for themselves and their dependents; providing free school lunches for their children, etc., in order to maintain the family, promote social stability and order, and to secure the normal operation of the market economy. (協助在全球化的產業環境中的輸家得到各種扶持與協助)

Section 436

We promise to work with the U.S. government to build Taiwan into the paramount Asia-Pacific business hub, creating jobs and wealth for the people of Taiwan. (建設台灣成為美國與西方世界在亞太的營運中心)

Section 443

We promise to work with the U.S. government and the U.S. defense industry to set up production lines in Taiwan for weapons systems to be used by the U.S. and its Asian allies. Further, we will strive to create military supply, maintenance, and training facilities in Taiwan , to secure employment for the people of Taiwan and boost science and technology within Taiwan .(讓美國的國防與軍事工業體系在台灣有很強的存在 ，包括部隊駐防、人員訓練、武器生產與裝備維修，以創造很多就業機會)

三

歐巴馬政府似乎也注意及重視民眾就業機會的增加與創造，在他任內，失業率顯然已下降，不過，年輕人的就業率的增加仍有很大的努力與改善的空間。由於在他任內創造的工作仍以低薪及非全職的工作佔多數，所以中產階級的經濟情況並沒有顯著改善，流失的中產階級也沒有顯著的回復。只要中產階級的比例偏低且生活品質沒有顯著的提升，「美國夢」就會褪色或名存實亡。[大家可能會或早已注意到美國政府、學術界不少學者與若干智庫的專家都十分重視「振興中產階級」的議題，因為這與民主政治的維繫息息相關。]

美國的民主政治的基礎富厚，在國家與社會發生重大的問題之後，它可以運轉內部的機制，它可以在體制內操作，以對發生重大問題的部分進行修補或加以改善，雖然有時會出現政府三個部門的哲學、理念與觀點不同，導致共識的建立需要較長的時間，但無論如何，美國都不會因此而出現革命或大規模的流血衝突，這就是美國體制的優越。

我們現在來讀一篇現任美國財政部長Jack Lew在去年發表的一篇文章: 

Put job creation at the heart of the global recovery

---The G20 must pursue policy that boosts domestic demand and employment, says Jack Lew

By Jack Lew
Wall Street Journal
7/19/2013

The US is again a source of strength in the world economy, only five years after it was the centre of a global crisis. This has not happened by accident. While we have more work to do, this shows that, with good macroeconomic policy, a resilient economy can bounce back and create jobs. (透過宏觀經濟的政策，一個有堅軔生命力的經濟可以止跌回升，同時可以再創造就業機會。)

When the finance and labour ministers of the Group of 20 leading nations gather in Moscow, getting people back to work must be top of the agenda. In many parts of the world, such as Europe, growth is too weak to drive job creation, and it is critical to take steps to bolster private hiring. Elsewhere, as in China, it is critical to speed reforms to shift towards demand-led growth. (在G20於莫斯科開會時，讓民眾再度回到工作崗位一事，應在會議議程的最上頭。)

Back in 2008 the US promised to address the vulnerabilities in our economy. And we did. President Barack Obama’s administration reformed, repaired and recapitalised the financial sector, and introduced rigorous stress tests to make sure our banks have the capital needed to start providing credit again. The Federal Reserve has provided the US economy with vital support tied to its dual mandate of full employment and price stability. [歐巴馬行政團隊進行金融與財政改革，聯邦儲備機構對美國經濟提供與存亡絕續有關的支援，這種支持與充分就業及穩定物價兩個重大任務緊緊扣住。]

When the economy was in free fall, Mr Obama acted decisively to provide fiscal support for jobs and privatedemand through, for example, tax credits and extending the duration of unemployment benefits. While long-term fiscal policy requires tough decisions, we knew we could not cut our way to prosperity. When it became clear that the private sector needed further time to gain strength in the face of headwinds from Europe, we acted again through a temporary cut in the payroll tax.

Our businesses have created more than 7m new jobs since the depths of the crisis, and private demand is strong enough to sustain momentum. Challenges remain but there is broad strength throughout the economy, including in housing, cars and the fast-growing energy sector. Health reform is expanding access and making care more affordable – and helping to reduce our deficits.

To remain on the path of continued growth, we need to avoid self-inflicted wounds while we are still trying to make up lost ground.

Americas commitment to pay its bills should not be brought into question with a debate about whether or not to extend the debt limit. And job growth would be faster if the across-the-board cuts known as sequestration were replaced by a more balanced path of fiscal consolidation.

We need to continue to invest in reforms to strengthen the middle class. The US needs investments in centres of excellence for advanced manufacturing, in job training, in education and in clean energy. Comprehensive immigration reform is necessary – not just because it is the right thing to do but because it is a smart way to grow our economy. And more work remains to be done to bring down the number of long-term unemployed.

Similarly, for global growth to be sustainable, other G20 nations must pursue macroeconomic policies that are centred on increasing domestic demand and employment.

The eurozone s first priority is to maintain financial stability, which it is doing through the establishment of new instruments, the implementation of difficult reforms and a commitment to move to a banking union. As a result, Europe is now in a position where it can put greater priority on boosting demand and addressing unemployment levels that have reached historic highs. Demand in the eurozone has shrunk for eight consecutive quarters and is now 5 per cent below its 2007 levels, while in southern Europe it is 15 per cent lower.

We have learnt difficult lessons from our own crisis. And now there are lessons to be learnt from our recovery. The G20 meeting this weekend provides an important opportunity to put jobs at the centre of macroeconomic policy.

(The writer is US Treasury secretary)

(待續)

台灣建州運動發起人周威霖
David C. Chou
Founder, Formosa Statehood Movement
(an organization devoted in current stage to making Taiwan a territorial commonwealth of the United States)