What would that mean in Taiwan? Put the money in your own pocket? And buy some votes, or spend it on friends and family?
Now I know why most of the ‘local chiefs’ drive around in fat cars … they spend the governments money on their own ‘discretion’ … :roflmao:
Incredible that such a system exists … well, it’s probably a left over from the KMT era …
And another thing that struck me is that the mayor’s office gets a bonus from the fines police puts out … and the officers themselfs get 28% … wonder why traffic is still a mess …
[quote]Scandals expose the lack of a proper mechanism to monitor special funds (Taipei Times)
In Ma’s case, the mayor receives a monthly “special allowance fund” of NT$340,000. Ma’s staff wires NT$170,000 of this fund along with his monthly paycheck – NT$150,000 – into his bank account each month.[/quote]
It is no wonder perhaps. The system is mental. Ma’s salary is just over US$4500 per month. That’s only US$54,770 per year. The mayor of any small town in America probably gets a better salary.
I have known English teachers to make about the same as Ma’s NT$150,000 per month.
As I mentioned once before on this forum, I don’t think it was very smart for Chen Shui-bian to cut his own salary in half. Although, people have said it wasn’t really his own initiative.
It seems in Taiwan people care a lot more about the perception of integrity rather than integrity itself. Politicians are prone to brag and make a big deal about cutting their salaries that are already modest, but then surreptitiously dip into other vague sources of cash in order to play their social roles properly.
I think Mayor Ma’s salary should be tripled. All charges against CSB should be dropped; all governmental salary structures reviewed; and all dodgy expense allowances eliminated as soon as possible.
I also think Mayor Ma should offer a sincere apology to the president for exhibiting blatant hypocrisy in his support of the recall motion and his advice that Chen should voluntarily step down. As leader of the KMT, I believe this is a minimum duty for him.
“You don’t have only to be serious, you also have to look serious”, so the wife of Caesar said…
What about eliminating the extras (like extra retirement fund, lower credit rate) of the teachers and public officers?
Yup yup yup. All charges against everyone should be dropped.The special funds should be abolished.
How about just shot everyone then only the honest people will be left. 
One thing is for shure, the KMT shot their own feet, they opened the can of worms they cherished for so long … no more to your own discretion … no more cream on the pie …