And Kan is outta there!

[Unkotare]

Kan (finally) resigns. A chance for better leadership in Japan, although the crop of contenders is not promising.

 

[Toro]

Japan makes Italy look stable.

It's a basket case.

 

[Unkotare]

I wouldn't go that far.

 

[Toro]

Maybe. But Italy has had fewer governments than Japan over the past decade.

 

[Unkotare]

There is no reasonable comparison.

 

[Toro]

There is no reasonable comparison.

Why not?

Both are heavily indebted countries with little growth and stagnating populations. The political disfunction in Italy occurs amongst multiple parties. In Japan, it is within a single party (recently crashed by an upstart).

 

[Unkotare]

When was the last time, for example, that Japan had a 'national strike' of the transportation system or the like? When was the last time Japan's Prime Minister was caught abusing an underage girl? When was the last time Japan was listed among countries threatening to bring down a huge regional economic bloc?

 

[Toro]

When was the last time, for example, that Japan had a 'national strike' of the transportation system or the like? When was the last time Japan's Prime Minister was caught abusing an underage girl? When was the last time Japan was listed among countries threatening to bring down a huge regional economic bloc?

Of course the countries aren't exactly the same. The histories and cultures are very different. But the disfunction in the political systems arise from similar issues. Both are heavily indebted, rapidly aging societies with little or no growth. Both societies are fracked if there are not fundamental changes. But the sclerosis in the political systems prevents them from doing so.