My opinion of this week(261)
Show the integrated therapy
The countermeasures to overcome deflation announced by the Economic
Council on Wednesday of February 27th mainly handle bad debt of banks,
although some more measures will come up later on.
There are many criticism against them saying that there are no measures
to stimulate demand which is the most important part of therapy to treat
deflation. Prime Minister Koizumi answered the criticism with the comment
and quote:"This is a long term battle. There are no quick-acting and
all-round medicines." He admitted the fact that market would not react
favorably against those measures.
He further commented :" All people lost patience. Don't upset yourself
so!" Well, all will say :"We know it. "
Many people just wonder why the Economic Councils led by Prime Minister
cannot show the integrated therapy to overcome deflation including the
measures for bad debt issues of banks. The council will show them next
time but could not present them this time because they have no time to
do so.
One of key measures for deflation is tax reduction, of course, to
stimulate total demand. While making fundamental treatment for the
disease such as injection of public fund for banks in trouble, some
more aggressive rehabilitative measures to recover total health of
economy are quite necessary. Various measure should be done in turn
with priority but some are to be done simultanesouly. The cancer of
bad debt itself will be treated with such rehabilitative works together
with basic treatment.
Why does Prime Minister not show many more of good performance on this
issue? Asking patience of people is not the only way.
One serious concern about this issue is that the explanation about
the decease and their measures of treatment by the President of the
hospital and doctors in charge is not well organized and integrated.
There are many different ideas and alternatives about the case inside of
the hospital. That's fine. But any explanation to outside should be
one without fail. The patient will have a great doubt if they differ
each others.
The leadership of the President of Hospital, Prime Minister Koizumi is
the most important in this respect. However, the weakness of his leadership
is not the responsibility of his own totally. That is the weakness of
Japanese political system and organizational issue as a matter of fact.
2002/3/2
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(262)
Koizumi's stance for political reform
After the internal report submitted by the Foreign Ministry on various
discredits of Muneo Suzuki, it was decided that Suzuki would be called to
the Diet on March 11th as a witness to testify against various scandals.
Prime Minister said :"it is a good decision made by the party members
concerned." It sounds like as if it has nothing to do with his own duty.
Liberal Democratic Party and other two ruling parties have been rather
negative to call Suzuki as a witness. They were obliged themselves to do
so seeing the report presented by the Foreign Ministry. The session of
testimony will be opened on Monday, March 11th but the time is limited
to only for two hours. It seems that it is too short to clarify details
of many facts in doubt.
A series of Suzuki's doubt is "a department store of doubt" as referred
by a lawmaker of an opposition party. His discredit goes beyond not only
to the Foreign Ministry but also to other Ministries such as The Defense
Facilities Administration Agency and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
Transport. It is a typical pattern of politico-bureaucratic collusion.
The Governor of Tokushima Prefecture was arrested due to charge of bribery
just then. The case also concerned with a public works as many of Suzuki's
case, although it is ODA related public works. It cannot help avoiding
the impression that the whole public works in this land is involved with
scandals.
Prime Minister Koizumi said:"there will be no growth of economy without
reforms." It's true. And this kind of corruption between politics and
bureaucracy is the top priority to be reformed. He stressed by himself
that it is important. But he does not stand necessarily at the front
of the reform by himself.
The LDP and ruling parties have been very negative to summon Suzuki to
the Diet as a witness. They have tried to postpone the summons with
the reason that the national budget of 2002 is more important. They
finally agreed with the summons but the time is limited for only two
hours.
I believe that public opinion will be very critical against such stance
of the Diet and Koizumi Administration.
2004/3/9
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(263):
Japanese Diplomacy
Japanese Police Agency announced a new kidnap case by North Korea a few
days ago. Series of scandals by Lawmaker Suzuki have been disclosed
including the return of North Islands. It is hard to believe that Suzuki
asserted the negotiation of return of four islands was useless by itself.
Regardless it is true or not, Mori Cabinet changed successive policy of
requesting the return of four islands at once. They decided to request
the return of two islands first different from the past policy. It seems
that Russia became more negative to return of North Islands itself due
to such inconsistent move of Japanese diplomacy.
The recent kidnap case by North Korea is not the issue handled by Police
Agency. It is a critical issue of Japanese diplomacy. What have Japanese
Foreign Ministry done so far on this issue s? How have they worked on this
seriously appealing injustice of North Korea to international community?
They were too weak to solve this very important humanitarian issue.
Any advanced countries, especially of US, have strong bargaining power
in diplomacy on any critical issue for their countries although there
are quite different on various internal and external political policies.
They negotiate with foreign countries based on strong internal consensus
about any of critical diplomatic issues. It is natural that the
bargaining power get stronger by it.
We doubt that there are no diplomacy as to many of important issues such
as the return of North Islands, kidnap case by Korea and so forth in this
country. No strong consensus have never been formed. Many different views
and opinions are there. That's fine but they should be integrated into
one when they go out for diplomatic stages. As we saw the case of Suzuki
scandals, it seems that Japanese Foreign Ministry have no ability to
perform the right diplomacy.
Japanese people must get back diplomacy from corrupted and disabled
bureaucrats of Foreign Ministry.
2002/3/16
Tadashi HAYASE
My Opinion This Week− March, 2002
My opinion of this week(261)
Show the integrated therapy
The countermeasures to overcome deflation announced by the Economic
Council on Wednesday of February 27th mainly handle bad debt of banks,
although some more measures will come up later on.
There are many criticism against them saying that there are no measures
to stimulate demand which is the most important part of therapy to treat
deflation. Prime Minister Koizumi answered the criticism with the comment
and quote:"This is a long term battle. There are no quick-acting and
all-round medicines." He admitted the fact that market would not react
favorably against those measures.
He further commented :" All people lost patience. Don't upset yourself
so!" Well, all will say :"We know it. "
Many people just wonder why the Economic Councils led by Prime Minister
cannot show the integrated therapy to overcome deflation including the
measures for bad debt issues of banks. The council will show them next
time but could not present them this time because they have no time to
do so.
One of key measures for deflation is tax reduction, of course, to
stimulate total demand. While making fundamental treatment for the
disease such as injection of public fund for banks in trouble, some
more aggressive rehabilitative measures to recover total health of
economy are quite necessary. Various measure should be done in turn
with priority but some are to be done simultanesouly. The cancer of
bad debt itself will be treated with such rehabilitative works together
with basic treatment.
Why does Prime Minister not show many more of good performance on this
issue? Asking patience of people is not the only way.
One serious concern about this issue is that the explanation about
the decease and their measures of treatment by the President of the
hospital and doctors in charge is not well organized and integrated.
There are many different ideas and alternatives about the case inside of
the hospital. That's fine. But any explanation to outside should be
one without fail. The patient will have a great doubt if they differ
each others.
The leadership of the President of Hospital, Prime Minister Koizumi is
the most important in this respect. However, the weakness of his leadership
is not the responsibility of his own totally. That is the weakness of
Japanese political system and organizational issue as a matter of fact.
2002/3/2
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(262)
Koizumi's stance for political reform
After the internal report submitted by the Foreign Ministry on various
discredits of Muneo Suzuki, it was decided that Suzuki would be called to
the Diet on March 11th as a witness to testify against various scandals.
Prime Minister said :"it is a good decision made by the party members
concerned." It sounds like as if it has nothing to do with his own duty.
Liberal Democratic Party and other two ruling parties have been rather
negative to call Suzuki as a witness. They were obliged themselves to do
so seeing the report presented by the Foreign Ministry. The session of
testimony will be opened on Monday, March 11th but the time is limited
to only for two hours. It seems that it is too short to clarify details
of many facts in doubt.
A series of Suzuki's doubt is "a department store of doubt" as referred
by a lawmaker of an opposition party. His discredit goes beyond not only
to the Foreign Ministry but also to other Ministries such as The Defense
Facilities Administration Agency and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
Transport. It is a typical pattern of politico-bureaucratic collusion.
The Governor of Tokushima Prefecture was arrested due to charge of bribery
just then. The case also concerned with a public works as many of Suzuki's
case, although it is ODA related public works. It cannot help avoiding
the impression that the whole public works in this land is involved with
scandals.
Prime Minister Koizumi said:"there will be no growth of economy without
reforms." It's true. And this kind of corruption between politics and
bureaucracy is the top priority to be reformed. He stressed by himself
that it is important. But he does not stand necessarily at the front
of the reform by himself.
The LDP and ruling parties have been very negative to summon Suzuki to
the Diet as a witness. They have tried to postpone the summons with
the reason that the national budget of 2002 is more important. They
finally agreed with the summons but the time is limited for only two
hours.
I believe that public opinion will be very critical against such stance
of the Diet and Koizumi Administration.
2004/3/9
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(263):
Japanese Diplomacy
Japanese Police Agency announced a new kidnap case by North Korea a few
days ago. Series of scandals by Lawmaker Suzuki have been disclosed
including the return of North Islands. It is hard to believe that Suzuki
asserted the negotiation of return of four islands was useless by itself.
Regardless it is true or not, Mori Cabinet changed successive policy of
requesting the return of four islands at once. They decided to request
the return of two islands first different from the past policy. It seems
that Russia became more negative to return of North Islands itself due
to such inconsistent move of Japanese diplomacy.
The recent kidnap case by North Korea is not the issue handled by Police
Agency. It is a critical issue of Japanese diplomacy. What have Japanese
Foreign Ministry done so far on this issue s? How have they worked on this
seriously appealing injustice of North Korea to international community?
They were too weak to solve this very important humanitarian issue.
Any advanced countries, especially of US, have strong bargaining power
in diplomacy on any critical issue for their countries although there
are quite different on various internal and external political policies.
They negotiate with foreign countries based on strong internal consensus
about any of critical diplomatic issues. It is natural that the
bargaining power get stronger by it.
We doubt that there are no diplomacy as to many of important issues such
as the return of North Islands, kidnap case by Korea and so forth in this
country. No strong consensus have never been formed. Many different views
and opinions are there. That's fine but they should be integrated into
one when they go out for diplomatic stages. As we saw the case of Suzuki
scandals, it seems that Japanese Foreign Ministry have no ability to
perform the right diplomacy.
Japanese people must get back diplomacy from corrupted and disabled
bureaucrats of Foreign Ministry.
2002/3/16
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week(264):
Taxation of shopping bag
I keep writing "My opinion of this week" one article in a week. I put
my comment at Mailing List consenting on "Taxation of shopping bag
ordinance" that is decided to introduce by Suginami Ward of Tokyo Prefecture
recently. Mrs. Ino responded to my comment saying she also agree with the
regulation decided by Suginami Ward.
>>Suginami Ward is going to tax 5 yen for a piece of shopping bag.
>>I agree with this kind of objective tax on environment. Including
>>myself, consumers uses so much of shopping bags at every shopping
>>for they are so convenient. All consumers are asked to reduce them
>>to solve an environment problem. The ward should start the regulation
>>immediately rather than waiting a year as stipulated.
>>tad
>I also agree with the regulation. A super market at Takamatu City
>tried once to reduce the consumption of shopping bag. They gave
>a stamp for a note and let customers have chance to get some award
>by lot when they accumulated a certain number. But they could not
>drew much interest from customers.
>Any consumers cannot ignore the importance of the matter if
>use of shopping bag is taxed.
>Ino san
I used to shop at CO-OP shops at Takamatu. They asked customers
to bring used shopping bags by themselves whenever they come to
shops. If they don't bring one, they have to pay some several
small yen at packaging counters after checking counters. That's an
idea, too. I personally have no resistance against what they try to
do.
The incentive plan to reduce shopping bags introduced by a super market
in Takamatu awarding consumers some prizes by a lot was not quite successful
because consumers still have only little interest on the issue. They
understand the issue. But they give more priority to convenience rather
than to invisible environment problem.
Any voluntary actions as such do not work. Enforcement by regulation
as conducted by Suginami Ward seems to be better to solve the issue.
Use of any goods and materials which deteriorate environment should be
taxed as the case in Suginami Ward. Tax of five a piece is still too
little. 10 yen or 20 yen is fine. Such objective taxation should be
considered not only for shopping bags but also for any other packaging
materials which are used very much at super markets in Japan.
Don't wait for a year. Immediate enforcement of regulation is acceptable.
Why don't you learn such good regulation to introduce to whole Tokyo
Prefecture and total country, Governor Ishihara, Prime Minister
Koizumi?
Tax revenues by that kind will not only help improving bad financial
situation of local governments and the central government, but also
providing fund to improve environment issues. That will also help
improving attitude and consciousness of consumers on environment.
That is the way as the proverb says: "Kill two birds with one stone."
Or more, may be : "Kill three birds with one stone."
2002/3/23
Tadashi HAYASE
My opinion of this week（265）：
Policy secretary
Lawmaker Kiyomi Tsujimoto of House of Representative is forced to resign
a diet membership. It has been disclosed that she has appropriated the
government-paid salary for policy secretary to cover her office expenses,
including salaries for other secretaries. There are some sympathetic
comments on what happened by saying she was not a rich politician and
had no choice but to misappropriate the aide's salary. But it is very
obvious that her act is against laws, political ethics and ethics in
general. No excuse is allowed.
Lawmaker Tujimoto mentioned that she heard many other lawmakers are
doing same kind of appropriation on secretary salary paid by the country.
Provided that there were some other cases as such, her conducts would
never be justified in any sense. A lawmaker of Democratic Party was
condemned to guilty for the same kind of accidents several years ago.
I just wonder how Kiyomi Tsujimoto could learn lesson from this case.
How poor and senseless she was!
Any lawmakers are subsidized to hire policy secretary by the country.
A policy secretary is paid 520,000 yen a month plus bonuses three times
in a year. The total amount to be paid is very high. Such policy secretary
system was introduced in Japan learning the system from other advanced
countries. It is pity that the system was abused in this way.
Many arguments to revise the system will occur after the scandal at this
time. Some say strengthening audit of total system is necessary. some say
there should be some more strict reporting on the use of fund although
subsidy to lawmakers is very necessary.
I personally believe that such system itself is totally reviewed concerning
their effectiveness and efficiency.
Any lawmakers are expected to have a variety of ideas and thought on
any political policies by themselves. Based on such personal ideas and
thought, it will be necessary to make them concrete policies helped by
able professional staffs including such policy secretaries. But is it
really necessary for each lawmakers to have a policy secretary individually?
The issue is basically the efficiency of activities each diet members
and the whole diet itself.
Ruling parties have announced the plan to reduce the expense of the
diet recently considering a number of criticism from people against
inefficient diet activities. That's better than nothing.
But I believe that reduction of absolute number of diet members in two
houses is more necessary. More efficiency of parliament activities will
be attained by making them smaller. And those less member of able lawmakers
are to be supported by many more able and professional staffs on any
political issues and policies. That is the way it is.
The diet is the place to decide important policies and laws of the country.
It is justified to use a large amount of tax for it. But it is expected that
real efficient and accountable operating system will be established as
soon as possible.
2002/3/30
Tadashi HAYASE
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