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In reply to the discussion: Wow. UAW President Shawn Fain isn't mincing words. [View all]pecosbob
(7,548 posts)35. For what it's worth, we mostly broke up the zaibatsu in Japan after WWII.
Under the Allied occupation after the surrender of Japan, a partially successful attempt was made to dissolve the zaibatsu. Many of the economic advisors accompanying the SCAP administration had experience with the New Deal and were highly suspicious of monopolies and restrictive business practices, which they felt to be both inefficient, and to be a form of corporatocracy (and thus inherently anti-democratic).
During the occupation of Japan, sixteen zaibatsu were targeted for complete dissolution, and twenty-six more for reorganization after dissolution. Among the zaibatsu that were targeted for dissolution in 1947 were Asano, Furukawa, Nakajima, Nissan, Nomura, and Okura. In addition, Yasuda dissolved itself in 1946. The controlling families' assets were seized, holding companies eliminated, and interlocking directorships, essential to the old system of inter-company coordination, were outlawed. The Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (which later took the name Panasonic), while not a zaibatsu, was originally also targeted for breakup, but was saved by a petition signed by 15,000 of its union workers and their families.[3]
However, complete dissolution of the zaibatsu was never achieved, mostly because the U.S. government rescinded the orders in an effort to reindustrialize Japan as a bulwark against communism in Asia.[4] Zaibatsu as a whole were widely considered to be beneficial to the Japanese economy and government, and the opinions of the Japanese public, of the zaibatsu workers and management, and of the entrenched bureaucracy regarding plans for zaibatsu dissolution ranged from unenthusiastic to disapproving. Additionally, the changing politics of the occupation during the reverse course served as a crippling, if not terminal, roadblock to zaibatsu elimination.
- wikipedia
During the occupation of Japan, sixteen zaibatsu were targeted for complete dissolution, and twenty-six more for reorganization after dissolution. Among the zaibatsu that were targeted for dissolution in 1947 were Asano, Furukawa, Nakajima, Nissan, Nomura, and Okura. In addition, Yasuda dissolved itself in 1946. The controlling families' assets were seized, holding companies eliminated, and interlocking directorships, essential to the old system of inter-company coordination, were outlawed. The Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (which later took the name Panasonic), while not a zaibatsu, was originally also targeted for breakup, but was saved by a petition signed by 15,000 of its union workers and their families.[3]
However, complete dissolution of the zaibatsu was never achieved, mostly because the U.S. government rescinded the orders in an effort to reindustrialize Japan as a bulwark against communism in Asia.[4] Zaibatsu as a whole were widely considered to be beneficial to the Japanese economy and government, and the opinions of the Japanese public, of the zaibatsu workers and management, and of the entrenched bureaucracy regarding plans for zaibatsu dissolution ranged from unenthusiastic to disapproving. Additionally, the changing politics of the occupation during the reverse course served as a crippling, if not terminal, roadblock to zaibatsu elimination.
I say mostly because, well, 'cuz communism and politics.
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They do it all over Europe. And I think they have a better standard of living than we do
Maraya1969
Mar 15
#15
We've learned that there's a cohort of maybe 20 to 30 percent of the population
littlemissmartypants
Mar 15
#42
I read that post yesterday, but never read the replies. Now that I have I've added a couple of people to my ignore list
pecosbob
Mar 15
#37
On the average, these guys have increased their wealth by nearly 14 times since 2012.
patphil
Mar 15
#10
Once upon a time, our tax code discouraged hoarding and encouraged re-investing.
Hermit-The-Prog
Mar 15
#11
1) RW brainwashing; and 2) A generalized sense of futility and of being in survival mode
peppertree
Mar 15
#16
No - but they do have two major RW news networks (which, in turn, own many newspapers and radio stations)
peppertree
Mar 15
#36
I fucking love this guy. Good on the UAW for recognizing his leadership skills! n/t
D23MIURG23
Mar 15
#50