Keeping it in the family

Here's an article on a subject that is fascinating, families of politicians.

What does Prime Minister Taro Aso have in common with predecessors Yasuo Fukuda, Shinzo Abe, Junichiro Koizumi and Yoshiro Mori, and others who came before them?

They are all political blue bloods whose fathers, grandfathers or other close relatives were political notables, some prime ministers
Read: Hereditary politicians a fact of life

How is this possible? I couldn't imagine an Australian politician winning election simply because their father was a politician themselves. But here in Japan, it's normal.

And simply mind boggling.

Of course if you actually scratch the surface of the Japanese government you'll find that it's not the politicians who make the decisions but the bureaucrats. Imagine Yes Minister, and you'll have an idea of what I'm talking about.

In a country where former comedians and transsexuals can get elected to office on the basis of their fame rather than ability to lead, I guess it isn't too surprising.