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Add Germany NO CONFIDENCE VOTE TODAY....French government toppled, South Korea, martial law lifted
I'm holding 2% foreign. Wife has to fly through Seoul, later this month. I hope the junk doesn't get stacked any higher. Everything is interconnected, these days.
We lived in Seoul in 1980 under martial law, the last time it was imposed in Korea. Had to walk past bored looking armed soldiers on the campus of Yonsei University, near where we lived. The guns may have been unloaded, but we did not then have enough Korean to ask. All universities were shut down that year until late Fall for fear of student protests. Very strange experience compounded by strict enforcement of a prohibition on Koreans even talking about the political situation.
An article from Atlantic shows South Korea’s political challenges and the implications of this declaration of martial law by the president. The last paragraph drew relevant scenario of what can happen in the States.
South Korea’s recent turmoil also illustrates what the late political scientist Juan Linz called the “perils of presidentialism.” Linz argued that democratic experiments tend to fail when they allow executive power to reside in a president rather than in a prime minister under parliamentary constraint. Writing in 1990, Linz warned, “Heavy reliance on the personal qualities of a political leader—on the virtue of a statesman, if you will—is a risky course, for one never knows if such a man can be found to fill the presidential office.” At the time, Linz pointed to one conspicuous exception: the United States. President Yoon’s seemingly failed bid to consolidate power under martial law is a cautionary tale for Washington on the eve of a second Trump administration. Sometimes, incompetent authoritarians botch plots to seize power. They still damage democratic institutions and norms in the process. And sometimes, the power grabs succeed—because presidential democracy is not protected by constitutions written with magical ink. Rather, it can survive its moments of greatest peril through the actions of brave people who cherish ideals more than power. As Linz warned, such people are not always in plentiful supply.
President Yoon Suk Yeol was very unpopular at home - his approval rating has been under 20 percent. He imposed martial law on the basis that the opposition was being infiltrated by North Korea. The opposition, members of his own party, and Parliament rejected the order hours later. Yoon was then forced to rescind his martial law decree. His long-shot attempt to subvert democracy had failed. President Yoon Suk Yeol will now need to resign or face possible impeachment.
Even Tricky Dick possessed enough sense of shame to resign, before facing impeachment. "Dick Nixon! Before he dicks you." (Old bumper sticker.)
We are so far removed now, from any sense of shame. Not one iota. And remember, Slick Willy "did not have sex with that woman!"
Hopefully, S.Korea's institutions and systems will win out over the would-be tyrant scum. Not so sure about the USA. Waiting to see how things shake out in France, too. Uncle Charlie De Gaulle got ticked off all those years ago over something. I don't remember what. And so, the Allied troops assigned in France had to leave. A good number went to Germany. Now, between Germany and France, France is the weak sister.
At this time: Opposition parties submitted the impeachment motion just hours after parliament unanimously voted to cancel Yoon’s declaration, forcing him to lift martial law about six hours after it began.
ReOpening of ND is supposed to be a moment of great pride for the French. Is there a reason the fringe could not wait for a few more days to topple the Govt and dampen the national mood?
They could not delay their gratification even for three days?
israel says it is destroying chemical weapons, and has also moved into a buffer zone. an obvious land-grab, there. now, i read of explosions in damascus in the dark, late at night. worrisome. will the russians refuse to leave their coastal base on the Med? us-backed kurds are considered by neighboring turkey to be terrorists. syria used to be part of the old french mandate, along with lebanon. what might they offer to do? but france is a mess, currently. good news is the former p.m. is cooperating with the victors.
After one month of being on the edge, a new NO confidence vote today (Dec. 16) has thumped the German government. Europe is having a nasty period, too. Article
Since this fall, there has been more political instability from one region to another. We have been pulling back a bit on stocks and increasing the cash position. Don’t like what we are seeing going into 2025 - high US stock valuation, sticky inflation (potentially get worse with tariffs and immigration), and increasing federal debts.
Edit: taking a page from Warren Buffet, we will be patient.
Comments
Sorry that the article is behind a paywall.
Just as we thought South Korea is a stable emerging market country to invest in, then came this !
He imposed martial law on the basis that the opposition was being infiltrated by North Korea.
The opposition, members of his own party, and Parliament rejected the order hours later.
Yoon was then forced to rescind his martial law decree.
His long-shot attempt to subvert democracy had failed.
President Yoon Suk Yeol will now need to resign or face possible impeachment.
We are so far removed now, from any sense of shame. Not one iota. And remember, Slick Willy "did not have sex with that woman!"
Hopefully, S.Korea's institutions and systems will win out over the would-be tyrant scum. Not so sure about the USA. Waiting to see how things shake out in France, too. Uncle Charlie De Gaulle got ticked off all those years ago over something. I don't remember what. And so, the Allied troops assigned in France had to leave. A good number went to Germany. Now, between Germany and France, France is the weak sister.
The grand reopening of Notre Dame, on Saturday; may not be as joyful for some folks.
ARTICLE HERE.
They could not delay their gratification even for three days?
https://npr.org/2024/12/07/g-s1-37286/south-korean-president-impeachment-vote-fails
Now what?
https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/syria-war-rebels-assad-israel-intl-hnk-12-10-24#cm4i2spov001o356omqaz3aio
israel says it is destroying chemical weapons, and has also moved into a buffer zone. an obvious land-grab, there. now, i read of explosions in damascus in the dark, late at night. worrisome. will the russians refuse to leave their coastal base on the Med? us-backed kurds are considered by neighboring turkey to be terrorists. syria used to be part of the old french mandate, along with lebanon. what might they offer to do? but france is a mess, currently. good news is the former p.m. is cooperating with the victors.
Article
Edit: taking a page from Warren Buffet, we will be patient.