[TigerLikesRooster]

They are like McGovernites back in 70's. They were trounced by Nixon, but in S. Korea they managed to take power. The difference would be that many of their supporters are in 30's and 40's unlike McGovern. There are many who have not grown up since their college days in S. Korea.

Now some of them say that they took power too soon before they mature. I am not so sure. To me, they got exposed too early. Had they not taken power, they can still pretend that they are the ones who can carry out wonderful reforms and make them work. Too bad that few of them outside 386 generation would be so trusting anymore.

There are complaints that it is unfair that the whole generation is tarred for the action of small number of them. However, the large majority of 386 generation were their enablers and supporters in one form or another. They trumpeted those in government now as the representatives of their generation, and were pretty exhuberant. Now they try to distance themselves. Too little, too late. They do not even flatly and unequivocally disavow the ones in power.

Some of them now package themselves as "New Right" and embark on another crusade to purge "right-wing extremists." Not all of "New Right" are bad, but there are enough of them in the movement. These guys are real disappointments. They still wage their generational warfare against older generation, even when their agenda are not viable.

They have to furiously convince themselves that they have not failed. They thought they are so much better than old bags, but it may turn out that they are not. That really kills them.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Ping!

[Carry_Okie]

Like America's anti-Vietnam War generation, the 386ers demanded greater economic equality and more social justice.

We must have messed with their schools after the Korean War.

[Louis Foxwell]

It is important for Western observers to understand that this New Left in South Korea is the same old Trotskyites of the 30's in the US and with the same effect. Rather than vigorously oppose the totalitarian regime in the North they sought accomodation. Their moral standing descended from there.

[Heatseeker]

Over the pasttwo years, his Uri Party has lost 40 out of 40 by-elections.

Man, and the American Republicans thought they had a tough cycle.

[SevenofNine]

OH JET somebody is roaney LOL!

[BJClinton]

But the progressives haven't been able to translate lofty values into sound government policy.

*snort*

It fails every time. Why do they insist on callng themselves "progressive"?

[Rocky]

Tell them to cheer up. Cindy Sheehan has arrived to help.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Thanks for the post. I've been puzzled by the popularity of the conciliatory attitude of S.K. to N.K. and this explains it. They were a reaction against the military government.

Their failure is the best thing that can happen for S.K. Their idealism is a good motivating factor, but as policy it fails. What is the chance of a more pragmatic approach appearing?