The emergence of the '3rd way'.

[Davo Dinkum]

I am wondering where you guys believed the '3rd way (conservative economics, liberal social policy) began.
I am spouting quite a unique theory: I believe the 3rd way began around the Asia Pacific region (Australia/New Zealand). These countries, with purported leftist governments, in the 1980's began the economic policies that were so embraced by Clinton/Gore/Blair.
What do others think?

[La_Serpiente]

1. I am sure

that many of today's economists were amazed by the Tiger Economies of Asia. Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, etc. were just expanding at enormous rate. I think the economists here just saw and and wanted to adopt their policies.

So most of those economists' ideas and views were incorporated into Clinton's economics policy. However, not all of it I believe. We just took some things and put in into the context of America's way of life.

[Classical_Liberal]

6. East Asian economies are protectionist

so that is not completely true. I think it evolved because the religious right took over the repukes, and the moderate republicans had nowhere else to go.

[Maple]

2. Canada has followed

the 'third way' for years.

Trudeau had it here in the 70's.

On edit: I should add that the 'third way' is a combination of capitalism and socialism...hence the words 'third way'

[Kinkistyle]

3. I think you just described "Old America"

I believe our country was founded on conservative economic policy and liberal social policy. Along the way, our country has "evolved" so to speak, in various ways, but we've always been that way. If anything, the Pacific countries are copying our system, not the other way around.

[Maple]

4. The US

has always been capitalist...and I don't recall any 'liberal' social policies. Sheesh!

And in any case, that's not the third way.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi Davo Dinkum!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DUreader]

7. Some time ago a DUer posted an interesting analysis of New Zealand

I believe it was in the 80s

What I can remember is that it was a trial run for Multinational

Corporate Raiders to Loot a country and involved

Infiltrating the Left and basically sabotaging/selling out their

constituents , placing the whole country in a massive long term debt

situation, eliminating social services, privating as much as possible

etc.

These were folks who used a 'third way' platform