This week coming up in Taiwan there will be an election for Mayor of Taipei. Even though Taipei is far away the mayoral contest is a fascinating one that we can only hope heralds a change in how politics can be conducted. (... note that the position of Mayor of Taipei is often the last stepping stone on the path to becoming the President of Taiwan, so it is a very significant election, not just some small local contest).
The independent candidate Ko Wen-je is a trauma surgeon, actually the top trauma surgeon in Taiwan (having saved among other people the man he is running against and the wife of the KMT mayor of another mayor Taiwan city). He is not a politician, and has never help political office. He has Aspergers, is pretty direct when he talks and is really trying to do politics in a different way. He is doing very little advertising for his campaign. His campaign is driven mostly by social media, eschewing the standard Taiwanese political tactics. He has even stopped taking any more donations. He is definitely not like any successful politician you have ever seen. Have I tempted you?
See below for some very interesting videos that do a better job of helping you understand this very interesting man that I could ever do. I have heard my wife talking about this guy for a few months now, but only today sat down to watch these videos (with English subtitles) and I have to say ... I am pretty impressed.
For some reason I can not get the subtitles to embed ... so click on the settings button and turn on the English subtitles ... it is worth it.
On why he does not have a suit and other interesting thoughts.
"I've often said what is the worst illness? Poverty."
How long has it been since you last listened to your children? An awesome political ad.
An insight into his personality from the daughter of one of his patients.
A tedX talk on medicine and life and death.
"Of all the doctors in Taiwan I am probably the one ER doctor who has seen the most cadavers."