Comments on: US biggest barrier to unification, but USFK a ‘Necessary Evil’ http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/ Korea... in Blog Format Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:40:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: John Thacker http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2183 John Thacker Wed, 25 Feb 2004 11:28:08 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2183 Right. Somewhat counterintuitively, the margin of error is determined only by the sample size, and is independent of the total population being sampled. (Err, assuming obvious things like the sample size being larger than the total population.) Right. Somewhat counterintuitively, the margin of error is determined only by the sample size, and is independent of the total population being sampled. (Err, assuming obvious things like the sample size being larger than the total population.)

]]> By: Alvin Pettit http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2182 Alvin Pettit Tue, 24 Feb 2004 13:28:34 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2182 Of cource the US as the major obstacle to reunification. Reunification under the North that is. I want to know how many South Koreans would really want to unify under that leadership. Of cource the US as the major obstacle to reunification. Reunification under the North that is.

I want to know how many South Koreans would really want to unify under that leadership.

]]> By: Scott http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2181 Scott Tue, 24 Feb 2004 00:27:41 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2181 Most Koreans see the US as the major obstacle to reunification, yet most do not want the military to leave. That's interesting. I suspect that deep in the heart of most Koreans they really don't want reunification. Why? They know it would be as expensive as hell and would drag their economy under for at least a decade. No more big apartments, no new cars, no big screen TVs, no sending their spoiled brats to the US to study...zip. Better to just keep Kim Jeong-il afloat and try to avoid thinking about the starvation and brutal treatment of the millions of their "brothers." Any scapegoat will do (Japan is on that list? Amazing...) Most Koreans see the US as the major obstacle to reunification, yet most do not want the military to leave. That’s interesting.

I suspect that deep in the heart of most Koreans they really don’t want reunification. Why? They know it would be as expensive as hell and would drag their economy under for at least a decade. No more big apartments, no new cars, no big screen TVs, no sending their spoiled brats to the US to study…zip.

Better to just keep Kim Jeong-il afloat and try to avoid thinking about the starvation and brutal treatment of the millions of their “brothers.” Any scapegoat will do (Japan is on that list? Amazing…)

]]> By: Toolboy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2180 Toolboy Mon, 23 Feb 2004 14:31:40 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2180 Actually Marmot, a sample size of 1,000 is very good for a poll. The margin of error is only 3.1%. Use this formula: The margin of error in a sample = 1 divided by the square root of the number of people in the sample. For more information about statistics and polling, go to www.robertniles.com Anyway, back to the poll results. Typically, when I ask a Korean how the U.S. impedes unification, I get a confused answer. Then I ask: if USFK leaves tomorrow, will there be unification? The answer is usually no. Koreans can't explain what the US specifically does to prevent unification, but just "feels" it's somehow culpable. Actually Marmot, a sample size of 1,000 is very good for a poll. The margin of error is only 3.1%. Use this formula:

The margin of error in a sample = 1 divided by the square root of the number of people in the sample.

For more information about statistics and polling, go to http://www.robertniles.com

Anyway, back to the poll results. Typically, when I ask a Korean how the U.S. impedes unification, I get a confused answer. Then I ask: if USFK leaves tomorrow, will there be unification? The answer is usually no. Koreans can’t explain what the US specifically does to prevent unification, but just “feels” it’s somehow culpable.

]]> By: Andy http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2179 Andy Mon, 23 Feb 2004 12:50:12 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2179 In my first comment I meant to say "1,600 in the USA" In my first comment I meant to say “1,600 in the USA”

]]> By: usinkorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2178 usinkorea Mon, 23 Feb 2004 11:05:39 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2178 Yes. These have been my mantras for a few years now. Mantra #1 The majority of South Koreans below the age of 65 view USFK and the overall SK-US relationship as a cancer on their society. A cancer they just can't afford to cut out --- yet. Mantra #2 US troops in Korea are post-modern mercenaries. Mercenaries because Koreans want to use them but hate them too. Post-modern because they don't make a profit - contrary to popular opinion in Korea. But, to add to my saddness, the bulk of America doesn't pay attention to Korea at all, but when they do, the press, think tanks, and both governments will tell them the "60% lie" and they will go back to comfortably ignoring Korea. Yes. These have been my mantras for a few years now.

Mantra #1

The majority of South Koreans below the age of 65 view USFK and the overall SK-US relationship as a cancer on their society. A cancer they just can’t afford to cut out — yet.

Mantra #2

US troops in Korea are post-modern mercenaries.
Mercenaries because Koreans want to use them but hate them too.

Post-modern because they don’t make a profit - contrary to popular opinion in Korea.

But, to add to my saddness, the bulk of America doesn’t pay attention to Korea at all, but when they do, the press, think tanks, and both governments will tell them the “60% lie” and they will go back to comfortably ignoring Korea.

]]> By: Kimchipig http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2177 Kimchipig Mon, 23 Feb 2004 10:41:52 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2177 One couls also intrepret this poll on another way; wanting the US to "withdraw in stages" seems to infer the old "Yankee go home, but not now" mantra that has been going on in Korea for as long as I can remember. Only 3.8% want USFK out immediately. Seems to me that over 90% want it to stay. Until the NK driven press finds another reason for a racist hate orgy. One couls also intrepret this poll on another way; wanting the US to “withdraw in stages” seems to infer the old “Yankee go home, but not now” mantra that has been going on in Korea for as long as I can remember.

Only 3.8% want USFK out immediately. Seems to me that over 90% want it to stay.

Until the NK driven press finds another reason for a racist hate orgy.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.rjkoehler.com/2004/02/22/us-biggest-barrier-to-unification-but-usfk-a-necessary-evil/#comment-2176 Anonymous Mon, 23 Feb 2004 08:12:40 +0000 http://rjkoehler.com/?p=558#comment-2176 Um-hm (Think of a really stuffy voice here).... Actually, you can do a poll of about 1,600 and be pretty much on the mark if you get a good sample. 1,000 in a smaller, less diverse country shouldn't be much of a problem. On the other hand, maybe their methodology sucks. Um-hm (Think of a really stuffy voice here)….
Actually, you can do a poll of about 1,600 and be pretty much on the mark if you get a good sample. 1,000 in a smaller, less diverse country shouldn’t be much of a problem. On the other hand, maybe their methodology sucks.

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