XPost: soc.culture.baltics, soc.culture.czecho-slovak, soc.culture.russian   
   XPost: alt.politics   
   From: k8mn@frontiernet.net   
      
   Eugene Holman wrote:   
   > In article , James A. Donald   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   >> Eugene Holman:   
   >>> In the Nordic countries proportional representation means that political   
   >>> decisions are worked out by consensus and compromise. Luckily, the   
   >>> ideological differences between the major political parties are quite   
   >>> small.   
   >> If all your representatives belong to the same culture,   
   >   
   > There are several rgionally different cultures within Finland, as well as   
   > three major indigenous langauage groups and other minorities.   
      
   The Swedish speaking minority makes up only about six percent of the   
   population.  For the most part, even Swedes have a tough time   
   understanding their Swedish.   
      
   For the most part, Finnish culture is very homogeneous.   
      
   >> are part of   
   >> the same elite with the same views,   
   >   
   > It would be difficult to speak of a Finnish political elite, since most of   
   > the political tension in the country is between those furthering the   
   > interests of the countryside and those furthering the interests of urban   
   > dwellers. Still, urban dwellers understand the importance of keeping the   
   > countryside populated and prosperous just as countryside people understand   
   > that the cities generate much of the wealth that ensures rural prosperity.   
   > The politicking here is one of fine-tuning, not one of a clash of   
   > diametrically opposed interests.   
      
   That's right.  The political spectrum in Finland is tightly clustered   
   near the center.   
      
   >> came from the same schools   
   >   
   > Although education is highly valued in Finland, being well educated is not   
   > a prerequisite for success in Finnish politics.   
      
   It isn't in the U.S. either, but it certainly can help to be educated.   
      
   >> and   
   >> conformed to the views in that school, then minorities are *not*   
   >> represented.   
   >   
   > But minorities *are* represented in Finnish politics, and the proportional   
   > system of apportionment ensures that they will continue to be so as long   
   > as they participate in the political process.   
      
   They're represented.  They just aren't well-represented.  If you belong   
   to a tiny minority, you receive a tiny bit of representation.   
      
   Dave Heil   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)