“Policies from above, countermeasures from below” is a phrase that suddenly came to mind during a chat with a Facebook friend. How tragic.
It started because we were discussing the Real Estate Price Registration policy.
After staying in Taiwan for a long time, we all know one thing: if you want to understand the true intentions of legislators when they enact a law, just look at the penalties.
January 16, 2014, the latest news:
The Legislative Yuan passed the third reading of an amendment to Article 51-1 of the Land Administration Agent Act. In the future, if a land agent’s price registration is reported by others or found by the land administration unit to be inaccurate, there will be a 7 to 15-day correction period. If not corrected within the deadline, a fine of NT$30,000 to $150,000 will be imposed.
Then, news from three hours ago:
Land Agents: The obligation to report real estate price registration should return to both buyers and sellers.
This is truly a magnificent play. I’ve titled it:
The Counter-attack of the Big Lambs
When land administration professionals meet legislators, the agents know exactly what the legislators are thinking as soon as they move a pinky finger. That’s true professionalism.
Clearly, these land administration professionals have no desire to be the victims of the power struggle and balancing of interests between the public and legislators.
And this isn’t the first time. Looking at recent events, the same situation appears in food safety issues.
Our biggest problem is that the gains from illegal interests always exceed the cost of the penalties!
When money is king, it’s far more profitable and efficient than the old saying about people being willing to do business that might cost them their heads.
Enraged.