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karaoke democracy

karaoke democracy
 n.— «The term “karaoke democracy,” coined by Takashi Inoguchi, a professor at the University of Tokyo, is part of a theory that focuses on the dominance of the bureaucracy in Japanese politics. He describes this relationship in terms of the main menu that appears on the catalogue of songs (issues) on a karaoke machine from which the politician may select one. Even if the politician has no grasp of that song (issue), he or she can read the lyrics that appear on the video screen, follow the melody that comes from the machine and simply follow the lead of the karaoke.» —“Social trust deficit” by Afiya Shehrbano The News (Pakistan) Nov. 6, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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