In the years from 1960 to 1997, the South Korean oligarchic elite (many of which had been collaborators with the Japanese occupation regime) had developed a highly successful developmental state capitalist model very much like Japan, which was aided by the economic stimulus created by the Vietnam War and Japan’s bourgeoisie’s decision to use South Korea as a major offshoring destination for its low value-added activities as its industries moved up the value chain. During this period, a large middle class was created as real wages rose and income inequality remained relatively low.
"Parties serve always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another”. George Washington.
And that, children, is why we have political parties: to agitate us with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindle the animosity of one part of us against another, foment occasional riots and insurrection and opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, as we see from Senator Menendez to President Biden.
Leadership elections and democracy are not connected.
The Mongols cherished their right to elect their leaders, openly, freely and fairly, after weeks of (literal) horse-trading. Not one warrior imagined that, thenceforth, he would be living in a democracy. Nor should we.
A very informative article for someone, such as myself, that doesn’t find S Korea particularly worthy of attention especially in a time of global upheaval. But it is extremely useful to know that my not particularly high opinion of that state (admittedly in ignorance) has some relation to that government and its role as a US vassal. Much appreciated.
"Parties serve always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another”. George Washington.
And that, children, is why we have political parties: to agitate us with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindle the animosity of one part of us against another, foment occasional riots and insurrection and opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, as we see from Senator Menendez to President Biden.
Leadership elections and democracy are not connected.
The Mongols cherished their right to elect their leaders, openly, freely and fairly, after weeks of (literal) horse-trading. Not one warrior imagined that, thenceforth, he would be living in a democracy. Nor should we.
Consensus politics works. Factions fail.
A very informative article for someone, such as myself, that doesn’t find S Korea particularly worthy of attention especially in a time of global upheaval. But it is extremely useful to know that my not particularly high opinion of that state (admittedly in ignorance) has some relation to that government and its role as a US vassal. Much appreciated.