June、 2010、My Opinion of this week
My opinion of this week(682):
A meaning of the birth of Naoto Kan administration
Naoto Kan, deputy prime minister of Hatoyama Cabinet was appointed to next
Prime Minister both in the houses of Represetatives and Councils on 4th of
July following the announcement of resignation by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama
previous day. Naoto Kan was elected to Representative of DPJ (Democratic
Party of Japan) defeating Shinji Tarutoko, lawmaker of House of Representative
who ran for DPJ Representative election in the morning of June 4th. It was
quite consequential rusult by itself.
Sudden resignation of Prime Minister Hatoyma brought the birth of new Prime
Minister Naoto Kan that is a kind of natural develpment when two main reasons
for resignation of Yukio Hatoyama are considered. The one was concerned with
transfer of Futenma Air Base in Okinawa. The second was concerned with money
and politics scandal for Hatoyama himself and for another DPJ top leader,
Ichiro Ozawa, Secertary General of the party. Yukio Hatoyama declared the
main reason for low popular rate for his cabinet and DPJ comes from those two.
Yukio Hatoyam asked Ichro Ozawa to resign from his position for he is
also responsible for money scandal for his political activities. There is no
room for Ichiro Ozawa to make any excuses on it and he was obliged to resign
together with Yukio Hatoyama.
Under this circumstances, those so called anti-Ozawa and non-Ozawa group of
lawmakers in DPJ did not fail to overlook this development. Group of all
anti and non-Ozawa lawmakers started immediately backing up Naoto Kan to
appoint him to Representative for DPJ which has been controlled strongly by
Ichiro Ozawa since the birth of Hatoyama Cabinet last August.
It was Naoto Kan himself who took initiative to reduce the power of Ozawa
and his group in the party after Naoto Kan become Representative of Party
and Prime Minister. He declared he would not apppoint Ichiro Ozawa to any
important position of the Party if he is appointed to Party Representative.
It was such a quick move and all non Ozawa group was organized into one
strong power in DPJ. It was really a fine political dynamics. This was as a
matter of fact the second big change happened in Japanese polics following
the change of power happened in last August. It is sure that this change will
become another momentum for the change of politics in this country.
Many critics said this change means the end of Ozawa power in Japanese politics.
It is a minus factor for Ozawa that Yukio Hatoyama declared he would not run
for the next election of House of Representative again. If Ichiro Ozawa
continues to work for coming back for political power, he will gain a kind
of bad impression for his obsession for the power compared with cleanliness of
Hatoyama's stance.
I am interesed in observing whether or not Ichiro Ozawa would come back again
in poltical world like an phoenix. But may be it is the end of his political
life and I am deeply concerned with his behaviors and contribution he played
in Japanese polics in Japan for many years.
The main concern at this time is, of course, what change will happen in
Japanese politics after the birth of new Naoto Kan cabinet next week. Politics
in Japan has lost confidence of people not only in this country but also in
the world. It is now the time to consider again the meaning of change of power
happened last August.
How can politics can break up bereucratic system in this country? What is a
ong range growth strategies ? How can DPJ administration can make financial
reconstruction which is now in serious condition? How can DPJ government
increase consumer tax to gain necessary fund to materialize many of social
welfare policies which were promissed to execute in the manifest of last
election?
Oposition parties insist new born Kan cabinet is mainly responsible for
conducting management of coming election of House of Councils in July and
possible general election of House of Representatives due to dissolution of
the House of Representative as reuqusted by opposition fronts.
I don't think it necessary for Kan Cabinet to dissolve the House of
Representative at this time. The election was conducted just one year ago.
The election of House of Coouncil scheduled in July is a good opportunity
for new administration to present DPJ's new package of manifest which is
reviwed and made necessary ammendment to the original packages shown in the
last summer election.
All opposition parties are expected to compete with ruling fronts in
terms of policies and manifests not in terms of just money and politics
issues as we have seen so far. Futenma is another important issue for
sure but not major issue any more. There are a lot of very important
issues which are conneted with the life of people in the short run and
in the long run.
It is our sincere hope that new Kan canbinet can present all package
of such important issues and all opposition parties can compete with
in any of those policies in question.
The popular rate for DPJ is coming up signicantly since the announcement
of resignation of Yukio Hatoyama and Ichiro Ozawa in the most recent
research made by Asahi news paper and Yomiuri news paper. It is a good
sign for revitalization of Japanese politics. Both ruling and opposition
front should work hard to win in the election concerning policies
matteres rather than the matter of scandals of other parties.
2010/6/5
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(683):
Countermeasure for dreasing birth-rate
Mizuho Fukushima, Minister of Countermeasures for Decreasing Birth-Rate finally
resigned from her position as a member of Hatoyama Cabinet due to her
disareement with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Futenma Air Base issue.
That's fine for her to do so for Futenma issue is such an important matter
for Social Democratic Party, in which she is the president. But I have some
basic doubt about her performance as a cabinet member of Hatoyama Cabinet
especially as a minister in charge of such an important matter of decreasing
birth-rate. What did she do on this very important national project while she
spent so much time on Futenma issue? It seems she did only little on this one
most important national project from my point of views.
Yukio Hatoyama already resigned from his position and was succeded by a new
Prime Minister Naoto Kan by taking responsibility for Futenma issue. But I
think Yukio Hatoyama did not do any good job as well on decreasing birth-rate
issue by appointing such uncapable minister like Mizuho Fukushima.
The Naoto Kan Cabinet has gained good popurality since it birth. But I was
disappointed with new born cabinet in some way. The minister in charge of low
birth rate issue was not selected untill the last moment. It was reported that
Koichirou Genba, a leading expert of policy in DPJ (Democrtic Party of Japan)
agreed to accept the position reructantly in along with other major position.
Why is this? It seems that the issue of low birth-rate is not important one
at all not only in Hatoyama Cabinet but also in Naoto Kan Cabinet. I thik the
position is so important that some full-time professional on this issue
should be selected even from private sector if necessary.
Subsidy of nurturing benefit is one very important manifest of DPJ for the last
summer election. I understood DPJ could have taken power replacing LDP-Komei
coalition by several by showing several attractive policies in the election.
Subsidy of nurturing benefit is one of them. Subsidy of benefit stared in April
under Hatoyama Cabinet. 16,000 yen is given to a child in any families in Japan
including some foreigners who live in the country. There exists a lot of
concern and criticism on this among oposition fronts. They criticize it as
pork-barreling policy in the runup to elections.
The main concern for this policy is shortage of fund for cash give away.
Hatoyama Cabinet faced to shortage of fund to continue nurturing benefit under
serious finantial difficulties. The original manifest is to give 26,000 yen to
each child in any families starting next year. But that plan is now under
reconsideration in new Kan Canibet to clarify shortage of fund.
Compared with Hatoyama Cabinet, Kan Cabinet shows more strong stance for
improvement of finantial position of the counrty. Prime Minister Naoto Kan
expressed the importance of improvement of financial position by taking strong
economic growth strategies. That is fine indeed. There is no doubt about that
basic principle of restration of financial position of the nation with strong
economic growth strategies.
If so, why is Kan adiministration showing some weak and negative stance on
low-birth rate issue? I don't know whether or not, subsidy of 26,000 yen as
nurturing benifit starting next year is appropriate and effective means. It
is said some part of such cash give away will be replaced by benefit in kind
or service. That quite alright, isn't it?
It is the most important for Kan Cabinet to continue to show strong stance for
countermeasures for low-birth rate. I have some doubt about toned-down stance
of Kan Cabinet on this issue, though. The imporatance of long range growth
strategies was stressed by Prime Minister Kan. There is no contradiction
between those two that is strong growth rate strategies and countermeasure
strategies of low birth-rate.
How can they attain any of growth strategies under decresing population? It is
now the time for Kan Cabinet to explain to people how important the
countermeasure for low growth-rate is as a basic infrastructure to proceed any
growth strategies which will start from now on.
2010/6/12
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(684):
Question on maximum 2 trillion yen waste cut
Prime Minister Naoto Kan stated clrealy that their cabinet would propose
possible hike of consumption tax to 10% level sooner or later which is the
same proposed by opposition LDP. This caused a big concerns inside and outside
of DPJ. As a resullt of this statement, possible hike of consumption tax
becomes one of the most important point of debate in coming election of House
of Councils.
According to recent popular vote research made by several mass media, most
revealed the fact that people generally admit the necessity to increse
consumption tax to some significant level such as 10% from current 5 percent
level to improve critical financial situation of the country and to keep
present medical cares and social security standards. LDP, the biggest
opposition party intended to make the hike of consumption tax a main debate
issue against DPJ which is rather negative on the tax hike so far in Hatoyama
cabinet. Kan Naoto cabinet reversed it insisting the hike of consumption tax
cannot be avoided due to seirous financial difficulties and to maintain high
level of social surities at this time and in the future. It is really good
tactics for the election campaign to win the victory. LDP must have been
stumped very much by approach. It is a kind of very skillful tactics indeed
for DPJ.
I generally admitted the necessity to hike consumption to a certain level
may be 10% or even more to meet the present financial and the necesity to
conduct many policies of social secuties including parental care susidy. But
I never admit and agree with such statement made by Yoshito Sengoku, Secretary
General of Kan cabinet. He said in the press conference: "The hike of
consumption tax is very necessary for the necessary fund to conduct various
manifest can only be got by 2 trillion yen level by cutting various waste
which we have tried various ways so far."
I was greatly surprised and disappointed with this stamement. I am sure
that this statement will cause big troubles among inside and outside of
the party from now on during election campaign and even after the election
in which DPJ will be able to win as a result. Kan cabinet will say that
they have succeeded in geting confidence of people by the victory in the
election. But I assume that this will creat some big anti-Kan group in
coming election of DPJ Representative in September. Sengoku's statement
has provided a good reason for anti-Kan group, especially pro-Ozawa group
to stand against Kan Representative of the party.
The biggest reason for the change of power happened last summer, people
supported the basic stance and principle of DPJ which stated any hike of
tax including consumption tax will be considered only after the drastic
cut of waste in administrative works. People provide a bit support for the
first and second "Jijyou Shiwake (selection of necessary and unnecesary
adnimistrative works )" which were done in Hatoyama Cabinet which failed in
other political matters such as Futenma and money scandals. People must
have supported and continue to support such very basic stance of DPJ
concerning the cut of waste first before any possibility of tax increse.
I think Yoshito Sengoku seems to underevaluate the general feeling of
people in this respect and people will strongly against his word stated
above in coming election and even after the election especially in coming
election of DPJ Representative in September.
I never agree with such word stated by Yoshito Sengoku to justify the
necessity to increase consumer tax. Overall and more drastic cut of waste
comes firtst to justify increase of any tax including consumer tax. That
should be the very basic stance of DPJ compared with political stance of
LDP in every sense of word.
2010/6/19
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(685):
Opening of net election campaign and digital divide
DPJ（Democratic Party of Japan) proposed to amend the present election law
which prohibits to use some internet tool such as Home Page, Blog, and Twitter
for election campaign so that those tools are to be used as legal campaign
tools in coming election of House of Councils. The proposal had already been
agreed by most of major parties. But the law was not passed unfortunately at
the ordinary session of the diet for it had been closed due to political
turmoil in connection with the change of cabinet from Hatoyama to Kan.
But many law makers and candidates for the election of House of Councils will
continue to use many of those internet campaign tools even under the
prohibition of them under the present legislation. A candidate of DPJ, for
example, announced to provide his voice campaign message through internet
after confirming the fact that it is not illegal conduct even under the present
election law.
The basic question is why do many of politicians and candidates in election
try to use net election tools regardless some legal danger involved under
the current public election law. The reason is obvious. It is most costless
and inexpensive means compared with any other conventional means existed so
far. There is no doubt about it.
The main reason for resignation of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and General
Secretary Ichirou Ozawa is scandals involved with their political activities.
A lot of money is very necessary for any politicians and law makers and
candidates for election at any rate. Any one who are in political world
need money leaving the argument on how they collect it. They must try to
conduct inexpensive and costless election campaign as much as possible. They
must transfer their political message to electorates more efficiently and
effectively in any circumstances.
Use of internet is certainly one of the most efficient and inexpensive method
in this respect. There is no question about it from the point of politicians
and candidates for the election. But I personally have a big doubt whether or
not net campaign is really very efficient and effective means in any respect
from the point of literacy of general public on internet. Use of internet is
still very limited to some group of people who are capable of using PC and/or
mobile phone.
Provided that use of internet is totally opened for election campaign, how much
percentage of people will be able to access to home-page, Blog, and Twitter
and read to understand messages in them? Is it 30% of total electorates? May
be, it is much less than 30% as far as my anticipation is concerned.
What I want to say by this is very clear. Opening and liberalization of net
election campaign is fine. It is a first step for costless politics and
election. The second step is to improve computer and net literacy of people
who can access to many of those sites of candidates and political parties
and have their own opinion on them. Improvement of such literacy on general
public is basic social infrastructure to be build for more efficient and
costless election campaign and politics in this country.
While many law makers argue about the necessity of opening of net election,
there are only little law makers who insist to improve digital divide in
our Japanese society. Improvement of income gap is becoming one of the big
issue in connection with the increase of consumer tax in coming election of
House of Councils. But I think improvement of the digital divide in our
society is another very important theme to be discussed in connection with
the political issue stated above and the growth strategies of this country that
Kan Cabinet is now talking about.
Improvement of digital divide is a basic social infrastructure for economic
growth of any nations and in the world. I wish I could hear such message
from any one of leaders in politics and business in this country.
2010/6/26
Tadashi HAYASE
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