Sunday, June 07, 2009
An Apology to Tinter and a Correction
Most of the stuff I’ve been working on this weekend has been work-related material so I can post them here. Instead, let me note that Tinter, in a comment to this post gives a very persuasive explanation of why the British MP expenses scandal unfolded the way it did—specifically, why Prime Minister Brown could not respond anywhere near decisively as his Tory nemesis David Cameron. In the process, Tinter most properly chastises me for denigrating his beloved Liberal Democrats—no, not this one, that one.
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8 comments:
Well my complaint was intended as much in fun as in sincerity! Nonetheless my thanks for the suprisingly extensive apology.
To expand, thats why labour got hit worse: a move to minor parties in an anti-politics mood was inevitable and nobody could stop that.
Also, I will be passing on your wonderful strategic advice for Aso Taro to my Labour Party friends as a sound direction for Brown.
I know, Tinter, I know enough Brits not to enjoy the understated irony. (Though my humor is more American sophomoric.) But I choose my words with care and craft my arguments carefully (though I would do well to employ a copy editor), and I throw away the bulk of the stuff that I start. So when someone catches me off base, I am both happy (because it makes me that much smarter—seriously, the blog has given more depth and subtlety to my thoughts) and mortified (because I don’t like being embarrassed). So, on those occasions, there’s nothing I can do but to apologize, and move on. Right, Public Interest? Right, LB? And those of you whom I can’t recall at this moment?
Incidentally, I was genuinely impressed and informed by your analysis of Brown’s predicament. As for my advice, don’t you believe Brown will take it. Real politicians don’t fade away, they have to be put down. Oh, so that’s why you’re telling your Labor Party friends…
Indeed, your open attitude towards any error is part of what makes you worth reading. Though not as much as your writing style, would that I could replicate it copy editor or no.
As to advice, one can do nothing but pass it on. Sadly his party seems happier to put him on life support for the moment. All is decided tommorow, it seems.
I do not often find myself envious of Japans governing system, but it would be so much easier (or at least kinder towards we who speculate) if we could draw up lists of MP's in convenient factions so easily as you do.
Well, I would jest that we do and call them "parties", but if you don't enjoy the humour...
Tinter, it’s at least as hard for the LDP. Both Shinzo Abe and Yukio Fukuda left on their own terms—to be fair, the poll numbers had been edging up in Fukuda’s case—and talk of taking Aso down has been quite muted. We humans put off the inevitable, avert our eyes when we don’t like what we see. Crisis management doesn’t come naturally to us; it appears to something that must be relearned—if it ever is—time and time again from painful experience, unless you somehow manage to internalize it at the individual or institutional level.
Factions certainly make it easier to talk and write about the political game, though it has become less helpful in rounding up votes for leadership candidates. Though the origins, functions and persistence of factions in Japanese party politics have probably been studied to death, I’d love to see cultural anthropologists and behavioral economists take another crack. Factions seem to be nothing more than hunter-gatherer bands or street gangs in suits…and subsidized housing.
And thank you again for your kind words.
This has nothing to do with the post but...
Congratulations about Bolivia. I'm sure you and your METI pals must be jumping for joy.
Bolivia??? Um, thanks, but...I think I need some help here.
Sorry for the confusion.
I was referring to the agreement between Bolivia and Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and JOGMEC to mine the lithium in the Salar de Yuni salt flats.
KY Diplomacy: Thanks. I missed that one. They certainly seem to be very happy about it; it's an all-Japan affair, waht they used to call "national project," or nasho-puro". (Yes, I'm aware it has 4 syllables. Officialdom appears to prefer 4, not 3. I think it's a carryover from the Japanese preference for 2-kanji words.)
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