建構一個全民參與的社會安全網 Establishing a Social Safety Net Jointly with All Sectors

—陳樹菊女士慷慨解囊的啟示 --Inspired by Taiwan’s Philanthropic Ms. Chen Shu-chu Vicky Chen, Chief of Public Relations Section

台灣中小企業信用保證基金 公共事務科科長 陳民埼

一、高失業率與M型社會下的弱勢族群

  近年來,台灣隨著製造業的大量外移伴隨而至的高失業率,也逐漸發生一些連動性的社會問題,其中為債所逼而走上絕路,甚而逼迫全家共赴黃泉的悲劇時有所聞。雖然自殺往往非單一因素所造成,但我們很有理由相信,如果為債務或經濟問題而尋短的人,能夠適時獲得經濟/財務上的急難救助(社會安全網),有許多寶貴的生命可以不必平白犧牲。

  另一方面,近年來台灣的所得階層已逐漸形成所謂M字型的社會,使得80% 的人落入下層社會。在此趨勢下,中產階級逐漸消失,極少數的人將擁有社會上大部分的財富,絕大部分的人則淪為經濟上的弱勢族群。

  在此M型社會的發展趨勢下,弱勢族群可能終其一生失業,子女無法繳納學費與營養午餐費,家人亦無法確保最低的生活水準。處於此惡劣環境下的人,極可能為了生活被迫挺而走險,而其子女在無法安心就學之情況下,更可能中途輟學,造成個人的遺憾與社會的損失。

二、建構一個全民參與的社會安全網

整合社會安全網資源政府責無旁貸

  為解決此一問題,政府應有效整合各種社會安全網資源,並積極推廣相關,俾便弱勢族群陷入困境時就近求援,以保有生活上的基本尊嚴。

財團/富人應積極回饋社會

  既然在M型社會下,大部分的財富集中於少數財團/富人,政府應以積極的作為,譬如經由公平合理的賦稅制度,將財團/富人回饋社會的機制法制化,以確保社會安全網之健全財務基礎。

社會安全網資有賴全民參與

  政府雖具有整合資源的主導優勢,但囿於預算之限制,其力量有時而窮,仍有賴社會大眾及全民的共襄盛舉,才能確保社會安全網資金的穩定挹注。

建構行善的社會文化

  對於許多國外富豪而言,慈善捐款已蔚然成為種傳統,因此把回饋社會、幫助窮人作為自己的一項義務和道德要求,比爾蓋茲與股神巴菲特極為典型例子。國內亦有不少以此為職志之企業家,於事業有成後慷慨捐輸,但此種回饋社會的文化,在台灣仍有進步的空間,而社會大眾更應為他們的善行不吝給予掌聲與鼓勵。

三、陳樹菊女士慷慨解囊的啟示

  自幼窮困的陳樹菊女士於台東縣賣菜48年,一向過著極為簡樸的生活。由於她年幼時曾受助於人,發願日後回饋社會,30年來發揮無私的精神慷慨捐款近千萬元新台幣(約合美金32萬元)給學校及慈善機構。她的善舉與感人的故事,不但讓她榮獲2010年《時代雜誌》百大影響人物「英雄榜」的殊榮,更為我們樹立了一個關懷社會、愛人如己的最佳典範。

  陳樹菊女士的善行令人動容,尤其令許多財力遠在他們之上的人汗顏。深信我們社會上還有許多默默行善的人,而這些感人的事蹟將會逐漸點燃你我心中關愛社會的火種,而鼓勵更多人效法、實踐她愛人如親的情懷,活出生命的價值。

四、生命共同體—我們都是一家人

  身處當今社會,人際間的各式直接與間接的互動密切,彼此的依存度有增無減,鮮有人可以真正離群索居。而社會若長期忽視對弱勢族群的關懷,無法給他們一個有尊嚴的生存環境,日後將可能遭到他們的反撲,形成社會不安定的隱憂。若果如此,處於社會另一端的富人,亦無法獨善其身。畢竟,在這艘船上,我們是命運共同體,更是一家人,相互關懷與協助乃是天經地義之事。

  建構一個溫馨的互助社會並非一蹴可成,但只要你我隨時依個人所能貢獻愛心與關懷,我們就可以期待一個充滿希望的未來!

 

I. The Disadvantaged Group under High Jobless Rate and M-shape Society

For the past years, following the high jobless rate partly caused by the manufacturing’s moving overseas, Taiwan is encountering some related social problems. One of them is that more and more debt-ridden people are forced to commit suicide; some of debtors even force their families to end their life with them.

Although committing suicide is not necessarily caused by a sole factor, we may well believe that if those who killed themselves for the financial problems had obtained economic/financial aid in time through the urgent assistance mechanism (social safety net), they could have survived the difficulties.

One the other hand, as Taiwan has gradually developed to be the so-called M-shape society recently, and eventually 80% of its people will belong to low-level society in terms of income. Under this tendency, the middle class will disappear little by little, and most of the fortune will be possessed by a small group of people. In other words, most of the people will become the economically disadvantaged.

Under the tendency of M-shape society, the disadvantaged group may be jobless all their life. It will result in the fact that their children cannot afford to go to school, or cannot pay for the lunches, and their families cannot even keep the basic living standards. We are terribly worried that people living under this poor situation may be forced to take any risk for survival. On the other hand, their children may be dropped out due to poverty, which turns out to be a great loss of individuals and society.

II. Establishing a Social Safety Net Jointly with All Sectors

Consolidating the Resources --Government’s Responsibility

In order to solve this problem, the government should effectively consolidate the resources of a social safety net and positively promote the related available resources toward the disadvantage group, which could help them keep the basic dignity of living when needed.

The government is urged to further help those who are suffering from debt problems find ways to weather the difficulties, otherwise their tragedy may repeat itself constantly, and the society will keep paying a great deal for it.

Financial Feedback from Conglomerates and the Rich

As we know that most of the fortune is possessed by a small group of conglomerates and rich men under the M-shape society. The government should actively construct a financial feedback mechanism from conglomerate and the rich under a legislative framework, e.g. through a fair taxation system, to make sure a sound financial foundation of a social safety net.

The Capital Injections from Private Sector and the Public

Although the government has the advantage of consolidating and dominating all kinds of resources, due to the restricted budget, its power is limited in some aspects. Therefore, to make sure a sustainable social safety net and stable capital injections, it is needed to have the financial support from the private sector and the public as well.

A Culture of Philanthropic Society

For most of the rich men in foreign countries, making donations has become one of the traditions. Taking Bill Gates and Warren Edward Buffett for examples, they have regarded giving feedback to society and helping the poor as their own responsibilities. There are quite a few philanthropic entrepreneurs who make donations to the charitable organizations as well in Taiwan. However, we need more of them. Besides, the public should give credits to the philanthropic people/enterprises/ entrepreneurs, which will eventually form a culture of philanthropic society.

III. Inspired by Taiwan’s Philanthropic Ms. Chen Shu-chu

Born in an impoverished family, Ms. Chen Shu-chu has been a vegetable vendor and lived a simple life in Taitung County, Taiwan, over the past 48 years. As she was once financially supported by others, she vowed to feedback the society someday, which has prompted her to make donation of nearly NT$10 million (around US$320,000) to schools and charitable institutions over the past 30 years. Due to the touching story and her selflessness, she was named among the 2010 TIME 100 most influential people in the world in the “heroes” category. Moreover, she has successfully showed us a best example for the social caring and mutual aid.

Ms. Chen’s philanthropies deeply touch us, and especially embarrass those who are much richer than she. We believe that there are many more who quietly help others in the society. More importantly, all those touching stories will certainly inspire the public to learn from the philanthropic people, sharing their love and care with the ones who are in need. By doing this, the contributors will find the true value of life.

IV. We Are on the Same Boat--We Are a Family

Under the current society, the connections among people are getting closer. We are more coexisting with each other than anytime before. It’s getting difficult to live without interaction with others. On the other hand, if the disadvantaged group is ignored by the society for a long time, it will certainly turn out to be a terrible backlash in the near future, which will surely harm the rich. After all, we are on the same boat, and we are a family. It is a must for all of us to care and to help each other.
It cannot be done overnight to establish a warm society of mutual aid. However, if we always manage to contribute our love and care as much as we could, it’s for sure that we can expect a shining future in the days to come.