January、 2011、My Opinion of this week
My opinion of this week(707):
Is the censure resolution just a barren exchange of revenge?
Yoshito Sengoku、Secretary General of Kan Cabinet continues to refuse to resign
from the position due to censure resolution by the House of Council at the
end of last year. Prime Minister Naoto Kan supported him based on the logic
that there is no enforceability on the resolution by the House of Council.
All oposition parties criticize Kan Cabinet saying the censure resolution is
to be accepted more seriously by Kan Cabinet for it is one most important
decision made by House of Council, No2 legislative body of the country. Takeo
Nishioka, Chairman of the House of Council warned Sengoku to resign from the
position in the same way. I personally agree with the request of resignation
of Yoshito Sengoku under the present circumstance. I wrote about it in my
BLOG of January 7.
I was surprised a little bit to read the editorial of Asahi News Paper on
January 7 titled "Let's overcome exchange of revenge by censure resolution!".
While the editorial of Asahi did not necessarily deny all aspect of the
censure resolution against Yoshito Sengoku, it casted some kind of doubt and
worry about it by saying it is a kind of barren exchange of revenge made by
two major parties, i.e. the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and opposition
Liberal Democratic Party of Japan. Before the change of power happened two
two years ago, DPJ often passed censure resolution against cabinet members of
LDP. LDP cabinets got serious damage due to censure resolution presented by
DPJ in those days. Now the situation has been reversed. Now LDP opposition
fronts look like starting to use censure resolution against ruling DPJ.
The editorial of Asahi News Paper described the present situation that way
as the title says. The editorial said it is now the time to stop such
a barren exchange of revenge by use of censure resolution at the House of
Councils. Compared with such censure resolution by House of Representative
, No1 legislative body of the nation, House of Council that is No2 legislative
body, should be more careful and deliberate for presenting such resolution.
I don't understand the logic of the editorial and even don't agree with it
at all. I understand that there is no enforceability for the resolution by
the House of Councils but it does not mean any one who got the resolution
can set aside it intentionally. It is a big political burden at any rate.
It seems that the editorial of Asahi underestimate the meaning of censure
resolution against Yoshito Sengoku in this sense. He got the resolution for
his series of improper statements and manners in the diet debate and
serious improper decision making such as the case of Senkaku Island issues.
Opposition fronts did not necessarily present it just for the revenge in the
past days.
I think Takeo Nishioka, chair man of the House of Representative and many
members of lawmakers of House of Councils are angry with the editorial of
Asahi News Paper.
One other background for this situation come from the fact that Kan Cabinet
and DPJ executives did not take any responsibility for such a big defeat
of the party at the House of Council election last summer. It is very strange
for Asahi editorial to mention any thing about it.
2011/1/8
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(708):
How can PM Naoto Kan maintain his power?
Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Friday reshuffled his Cabinet, recruiting veteran
lawmakers known to be advocates of fiscal consolidation and trade
liberalization in hopes of boosting his poll ratings and improving ties with
the opposition camp.
Kan shakeup, resulting in four newcomers to the Cabinet, took place ahead of
the 150-day regular Diet session due to begin Jan. 24, in which opposition
parties are expected to give the Democratic Party of Japan-led government a
rough ride over the passage of the fiscal 2011 budget and related bills.
The highlights of the reshuffle were the appointments of Yukio Edano, 46, who
became the youngest-ever chief Cabinet secretary, and Kaoru Yosano, 72, a
longtime architect of economic policy in the rival Liberal Democratic Party,
as the minister responsible for addressing the tattered public finances and
ballooning social security costs.
The problem of this reshuffle is the fact that it created another strong
emotional antagonistic feeling in inside of ruling DPJ (Democratic Party of
Japan) and among opposition parties including LDP (Democratic Party of Japan)
and Tachiagare Nippon (Sunrize Party of Japan)
Yukio Edano, a new chief Cabinet secretary, is the man who is known as
one top leader of anti-Ozawa group of DPJ. Because of his appointment, DPJ
continues to remain as very unstable position as a ruling party. Why did
Prime Minister Kan not elect more neutral man to a key position such as chief
secretary of cabinet to get more stable support from the inside of the party?
Further more, Kan appointed Yoshito Sengoku who resigned the chief secretary
position at this time to Deputy Representative of DPJ, No2 man in the
party. It is natural that such decision was accepted with strong antagonistic
feeling from lawmakers of pro-Ozawa group. I just wonder why Naoto Kan does
not have more ordinary political sense under the present political
circumstances inside of DPJ.
More serious problem concerning new Cabinet is appointment of Kaoru Yosano out
side of the party. Kaoru Yosano is the man who left LDP a year ago leaving
some strong antagonism inside of LDP. He left just a day ago from Taciagare
Nihon with another antagonism from that party. Yosano's appointment created
very severe antagonistic feeling from most of opposition parties including
LDP and Tachiagare Nihon Party. Strong negative feelings do not come from
difference of the opinion concerning policy matters. It comes from mostly from
emotional feeling of people who had worked with Yosano in the past. There
exist a lot of lawmakers who worked with Yosano under the same political
stance to recover serious financial standing of Japan. But many of those
lawmakers must have felt now strong feeling that they were betrayed by Yosano.
Yosano really betrayed those old partisan and decided to work rather new
comers on that subject.
Naoto Kan should realize the fact that he had created a lot more enemies
in this respect both inside of DPJ and outside of the party. He must have
believed that his new cabinet would be supported with higher rate by
taking such political stance concerning such very basic political issue as
financial restoration. But I think he is wrong.
I think his cabinet will face more difficult position when ordinal diet session
start at the end of January with continued very low popular support rate.
It seems Naoto Kan lacks very basic political sense to maintain the power
of all respect. How can he maintain his administration by lacking stable
support from inside of ruling fronts and by facing stronger antagonistic
feeling from opposition fronts?
2011/1/15
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(709)：
Mutual assistance or self-help
There are a lot of confusion concerning the argument on revision of
the present pension plan and consumer tax increase plan to support future
images as social security state among ruling DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) and
other major opposition parties representing LDP (Liberal Democratic Party
of Japan). Kan Cabinet proposed to start discussing the issue among all
ruling fronts and opposition fronts as soon as possible. But LDP and
other opposition parties refused it. They insisted that DPJ should show
their total plan first which should get consensus of DPJ internally.
I agree with the assertion of opposition parties for it does not make sense
to start arguing the issue for DPJ without getting total consensus of the
inside of DPJ. There exists a lot of difference in the opinion on revision
of pension plan or future image of social security state of Japan among
ruling party itself . The discussion on necessity of consumer tax increase
is very necessary but it is necessary for them to argue first what is their
image of future social security state. Without arguing that basic issue,
they can never argue how high the consumer tax will be.
If Japan wants to become such high grade social security country like Sweden,
consumer tax rate should be much higher may be 20% or more in the future.
If Japan wants to select middle grade social security country, consumer tax
rate may somewhere between 15% and 20%. If Japan try to become low grade
social security nation such as US, consumer tax can be much lower 10% or so.
This very basic issue is not necessary agreed with inside of DPJ itself.
"Close up 2011" of Mainichi Newspaper criticized DPJ saying that DPJ has no
definite principle on future image of social security state inside of the
party. The key words are two. Which word they select "mutual assistance" or
"self-help" as the term to pursue as a nation.
From my point of view, it is obvious that DPJ is the party that pursue
"mutual assistance" rather than "self-help" and LDP is the party that put
more emphasis on "self-help" rather than "mutual help".
A big mistake by Kan Second Cabinet is that Prime Minister Naoto Kan appointed
Kaoru Yosano to Minister of Economy and Finance who is going to handle
increase of consumer tax in connection with revision of pension plan. Kaoru
Yosano was Minister of Finance in Aso Cabinet, the last LDP administration
which lost power in general election in 2009. Kaoru Yosano is a strong
promoter of consumer tax increase for finance reform and has doctrine of
middle grade burden share for middle level of social security. As a member of
Kan Cabinet, he already declared this principle to start arguing revision
plan of pension plan and consumer tax increase plan to support it.
A lot of disagreement against Yosano's assertion have been expressed both from
inside of DPJ and from opposition parties as well. Why does Prime Minister
Naoto Kan create such confusion inside of the party even before arguing outside?
How can he start arguing consumer tax increase without discussing such very
important issue inside of the party first?
Sachio Edano, Secretary General of DPJ said argument on pension plan can be
discussed without making any philosophical argument such as "mutual help" or
"self-help". No, it is not. He is entirely wrong. "Mutual help" or "Self-help" is not
any philosophical argument . It is very political and most very basic
argument to decide future course of the nation.
It is natural that Kan Cabinet is now under very difficult position in every
political phase. The top man and the general secretary really lacks the most
important political sense in this way.
2011/1/22
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this Week (710):
Decentralization and debate on tax reform
"Governor Toru Hashimoto of Osaka Prefecture criticized that Kan Cabinet
is going to present consumer tax increase plan some time by June this year.
The Governor said such increase plan will never be supported by people
without showing several drastic waste reduction measures both on administrative
and legislative bodies. He continued to insist that people of Japan should
never support and agree with any of such tax increase plans until Kan Cabinet
present such a concrete administrative and legislative reform plan."
Sankei Newspaper, January 26,2011
I fully agree with what Governor Hashimoto said. People of Japan show their
general understanding about the necessity of increase of consumer tax in
near future in many of recent popular vote conducted by several major mass
media. But at the same time, there exists some premises on this. Majority of
people seems to accept increase of consumer tax provided that some more
administrative and legislative reform would be conducted to cut total annual
spending including the cut of total personal expenditure of public servant and
of total expenditure on diet by cut of number of lawmakers in two houses.
In addition to such administrative and legislative reform plan, a certain
concrete and overall picture of social welfare scheme including pension plans
in the future. Yes, this is what Kan Cabinet is going to do in next three
months or so. It does not make sense to talk about any tax increase plan
without showing any of such total package of social securities plan in the
future.
It is fine for Governor Hashimoto to criticize Kan Cabinet in this respect.
But there lacks a lot more important matters related with this matter of
tax increase. As a matter of fact, it closely related more with what Governor
Hashimoto is playing on his side. In along with several other promoters on
decentralization of local municipals and prefectures from central power,
Governor Hashimoto is working to establish more independent regional system
such as United States of Japan in the long run.
The argument on this decentralizations involves more of drastic change of
structure of Japan as a total. Any of the arguments on tax reforms or
increase should be discussed also in connection with this issue of
decentralization. Once such restructuring of the country happens, there will
be great change on tax system as well.
I just wonder why Governor Hashimoto does not bring up this matter in
connection with his criticism on tax increase plan of Kan Cabinet. He should
advise Prime Minister Naoto Kan to pay more attention on the issue of
decentralization of local cities and prefectures when he start discussing
consumer tax increase plan.
As a matter of fact, decentralization of local bodies is another key manifesto
of DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) . But Kan Cabinet that succeeded Hatoyama
Cabinet seems to pay not much attention on this issue.
Yoshihiro Katayama, a new appoint Minister of General Affairs of Kan Cabinet
is not really working hard on this issue of decentralization compared with
Kazuhiro Haraguchi a former Minister of General Affairs of Hatoyama Cabinet.
I just wonder why it is so.
I would like to suggest Governor Hashimoto two matters. Firstly, it is now the
time that he and other advocators for decentralization should start arguing
the issue more with central government leaders and staffs rather than with
people with local level. Secondly, they should insist that any of such
argument on the plan of consumer tax increase are to be discussed in connection
with the issue of decentralization now underway.
2011/1/29
Tadashi HAYASE
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