3a71b817   
   XPost: soc.culture.baltics, soc.culture.czecho-slovak, soc.culture.russian   
   XPost: alt.politics   
   From: ddfr@daviddfriedman.nopsam.com   
      
   In article ,   
    Dave Heil  wrote:   
      
   > 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.   
      
   I believe there was a point, in the not too distant past, when there was   
   an opening for the official in charge of matters concerning the Kaale. A   
   qualified Kaale applied.   
      
   He didn't get the job.   
      
   --   
    http://www.daviddfriedman.com/ http://daviddfriedman.blogspot.com/   
    Author of _Harald_, a fantasy without magic.   
    Published by Baen, in bookstores now   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)