Perhaps Prof Hiwatari is so impressed by the way in which rational choice theorists have illuminated the complexity of Congressional law-making is because, a few statesman like George Mitchell apart, 95% of the participant politicians really are individualists for whom enhancing their own wealth, power and status provides 90% of their motivation. You get a less perfect fit of model to observed reality out of such simple assumptions about politicians' motivations in more communitarian societies like Japan or Italy.

Ronald Dore