Comments on: Roh finds a spine (and structural problems with Korea’s electoral system)

By: mod_mephisto

mod_mephisto — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 03:18:54 +0000

“In short, voters would have a chance to adjust government policy by voting for one district-based assemblyman and one party every two years. The 100 seats not up for grabs that year would provide stability.”

You mean, like permanent elections? And, endless campaigning, money politics, and corrupt lobbying? People only ask for more resolute government when they want something, but when the government screws up, they wish it were neutered. Divided government is the best hope for moderate, incremental change. Today’s sure answer could be tomorrow’s “what if” dilemma. South Korea already has its checks and balances between national and regional governments. The problem is not the political system, but the social structure that doesn’t go with it, internecine warfare between incompetent aristocrats and between ruler and ruled. Just wait, perhaps another dictator will arise to give ROK government a little speed. NOT!!!

By: sewing

sewing — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 17:49:34 +0000

I noticed that true to pattern, on this incident too, someone from the Blue House had to “clarify” what Roh meant after he spoke off the cuff.

By: Links of note: FTA negotiations and fallout from the local elections at The Marmot’s Hole

Tue, 06 Jun 2006 10:46:44 +0000

[...] On the political front, Joshua at The Korea Liberator has, not one, not two, but three pieces on the fall out of last week’s local elections. I don’t agree with everything he has to say (he thinks that it is 50/50 that Roh will resign while I think Roh has found some backbone) but it is all good reading. [...]

By: waygugin

waygugin — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 16:21:54 +0000

Not that it really matters too much but Canada ’s unemployment rate is just over 6 % now and Australia’s is just over 5%….Google it, so I think it is just a tad bit unfair to make comparisons to the French and Germans. Furthermore Canada’s finances…pick a stat…are not the impending disaster that the US’s are.

By: baduk

baduk — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 16:18:30 +0000

I am afraid that Rho is right. This election defeat will not doom the party. Actually, it will work for the Uri.

Hannara is in party mood with wrong sense of superiority. This election result does not necessarily support Hannara. Rho is slammed, for sure, but that does not mean people love Hannara, either.

Park Gun Hye will be likely to the presidential candidate. The kiss of death. Park, the daughter of the dictator. No special talent other than pure name recognition. No clear goals for Korea, either. She is Lee HoyChang, all over again.

People hate this type “elite” candidate who wants to be a president because he or she wants to be a president. No directions or goals for Korea. Just status quo, working for the establishment.

A strong candidate is one who promises a big thing. Rho did that in 2002 by promising closer ties with NK and possible unification, which turned out to be a losing proposition. However, it is better than Lee’s “I will maintain law and order”.

Hannara should be careful. Their constant pandering to the rich and big corporations along with their greed (receiving heavy bribes) will doom the party when the next big scandal is made public.

The Uri must go. However, Hannara is not supported by the people, either. Hannara party, set up by former dictators, is filled with dirty politicians and they must be impeached.

Koreans need new political party. GoGun is working on it. I hope he suceed.

By: judge judy

judge judy — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:40:41 +0000

i’ll believe it when he wipes that idiotic grin off his face.

By: Danger Mouse

Danger Mouse — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 07:27:07 +0000

Fair enough, wjk. I should probably do a bit more of that myself.

By: wjk

wjk — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 07:18:39 +0000

Austrailia, seems to have had one last during the early 90’s, basically when everyone else was having one, too.

http://www.econstats.com/IMF/IFS_Aus1_67R___M.csv

Sorry, danger mouse, I admit it’s a stretch. I am indeed talking rot. Sometimes, I prefer to think

By: Danger Mouse

Danger Mouse — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:37:53 +0000

Whoops, that should be, “according to the OECD.”

By: Danger Mouse

Danger Mouse — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 06:35:51 +0000

“Robbing the rich to bring up the poor. It’s an illusion. Yeah, they do it Europe, Austrailia, and Canada, but with a higher tax on everything. Mostly to the middle class. More like, rob the middle class, bring up the poor. There’s a reason why European unemployment rate, and in Austrailia and Canada, is always 10% plus.
Socialism is great!”

WJK, with all due respect, you’re talking rot. Granted, SOME European countries have dreadful structural problems that are perpetuating high unemployment rates - France, Germany and Italy, to name three. But what of the Netherlands, Ireland, the UK and Norway? All of these (and there are more), according to the OECD, have had lower rates of unemployment than the US for at least the last three years. And when did that well-known hotbed of socialism Australia last have unemployment over 10 percent?

And tax? Yes, the US has a low overall tax take by OECD standards, but it’s not that simple. The personal income tax rate is higher than many, as is the top rate of income tax. Rob from the rich, bring up the poor, I guess you could call it.

Just because a country chooses not to leave around one-sixth of its population without health insurance does not make it socialist.