Leaving the lectern In 2008, with the change of ruling party, a series of scandals were brought to light about the previous government involving the sale of political appointments and other corruption. These scandals gave people the feeling that politics truly was dirty. Consequently, many idealistic intellectuals now no longer aspire to work in politics, and many people have become suspicious of intellectuals who are involved in government.
2008 年政黨輪替之後，當前的台灣政壇一連串爆出獲前朝政府拔擢的政治人物買官、貪污等醜形惡狀，給人「政治真是骯髒」的觀感，一方面使得有理想的知識分子不願從政施展抱負，另一方面也讓大眾對從政知識分子投以懷疑、不信任的眼光。