DeLong goes for the jugular

[Jean-Christophe Helary]

Besides for the unions (but then the teachers unions vere always very 
powerful in Japan) pretty much the same can be said about Japan. Still I
suppose what Yoshie meant is that this 'grass root' level democracy does not
make it above a certain level, and that was confirmed from what I saw after
comming here (in Japan) or talking to german friends. Ok, it is not serious
studying, but comparing that to daily experiences in the 'activist' world in
France, where I come from, and it's implication on national level politics
confirms what Yoshie says. As Brad says, Japan is a 'democracy' and so
respects a few things that make it look like a democracy to the outsider.
But it does not mean that there is no 'glass ceiling' that keeps you from
having all you can get from 'democratic activity. I have the feeling this
glass ceiling is pretty thick in the two countries that were supposed to be
on the front line with the communist world.

JC Helary

----------
>From: Dennis R Redmond <dredmond at oregon.uoregon.edu>
>To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
>Subject: Re: DeLong goes for the jugular
>Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 22:56:41 -0700 (PDT)
>


> On Tue, 4 Jul 2000, Yoshie Furuhashi wrote:
>
>> I don't think of German democracy as very lively.
>
> In comparison to what? Have you ever visited Germany, studied its
> politics, and looked over its welfare state? There's remarkable amounts of
> local and regional activism there, a proportional representation system
> which enables small parties to elect legislators, lots of Left parties to
> choose from, and even fiery unions like IG Metall (none of which gets
> reported in the business press, but that goes without saying). They make
> the US look like the pathetic Second World oligarchy which, well, we
> indeed are.
>
> -- Dennis
>
>
>