politics

Abe calls election; delays sales tax hike

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“Abenomics merely expanded the gap” between the haves and the have-nots

This is quite true, but the LDP has been doing this to Japanese citizens for 70 years. It's nothing new!

5 ( +9 / -4 )

Hmmmm when was the last time you said you want higher prices so you can spend more of your money?

13 ( +14 / -1 )

This is quite true, but the LDP has been doing this to Japanese citizens for 70 years. It's nothing new!

No quite so, the average consumer built up their savings to the extent that it is what is now keeping the country afloat.

The government thinks that since it worked once it will work again. However the circumstances are day and night different and the folks in power are too blind to admit that now.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Coming big election costs about Y60 billion (of taxpayers). I don't want lawmakers to make it happen very easily. That's taxpayers money. It seems that Prime Minister does not have a good reason for it.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

“After postponing for 18 months I intend to raise the tax for sure, regardless of economic conditions, which is a significant change. We need to ask the approval of the people for this change (by calling an election).”

Yeah, the 'approval of the people' is necessary, just like it is for restarting the NPPs (majority against), white-washing history (majority against), changing article nine of the constitution (majority against), secrecy law (majority against), and more. Abe has never and WILL never listen to the people as he continues to pursue his own personal vendettas and of course please the vested interests. And if he's hell-bent on doing this 'regardless of economic conditions', why wait two more years? And I love the way they guy talks about what he's going to do after the election, like the deal is already sealed -- which is indicative that he knows full well it does not matter what they people thinks, just how he manipulates the politics here.

And keep in mind, this is the snap election that he clearly stated was not going to happen when it was leaked to the media, and in his own speech the next day (immediately after the sentence that it 'might be necessary').

18 ( +22 / -4 )

What a circus Japan is. I can't believe it.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

What Abe just did would achieve one particular goal: to borrow time for himself and LDP.

For decades Japanese politicians from both isles have been using the same highly predictable tactic called “not-in-my-backyard”. To sustain their terms in power, those elected officers care little to none about Japan’s future. As long as they get what they want and their friends are been taken care of, there is no need to face the reality. That is why so far Japan has amassed equivalent 250% of GDP level of public debts on its books and still growing at this minute.

As we know, there is no free lunch, at some point the gravy train will stop, and someone will have to pay for the bills, Japan will not be exempted for the earthly gravity, either. With dwelling population and living standards in Japan, sooner or later, the music has to be faced by someone.

There comes the ironic part, the Japanese market indexes and world ones may take cues to cheer up Abe’s brilliant actions ( financial markets love the certainty, Abe just offers that), so while you are at it, party on, even unfortunately at Japan’s expenses.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

At its heart, Abenomics is intended to push prices up and get Japanese shoppers spending.

Just how dumb are these japanese politicians?? Prices go up and people buy more?? On which planet??

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Abenomics merely expanded the gap between the haves and the have-nots

This is quite true, but the LDP has been doing this to Japanese citizens for 70 years. It's nothing new!

It's pretty new. It's since Koizumi expanded temp job (Haken) to all kind of Jobs. Until then Japan did not have so much gap.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I love it... “After postponing for 18 months I intend to raise the tax for sure, regardless of economic conditions, which is a significant change. "

After 18 months he says "...I intend to raise the tax for sure..." meaning this man honestly believes he'll still be in power in 18 months. He's either disgustingly oblivious to the reality that's closing in around him or he is frighteningly content on maintaining his collision course and taking Japan down to the bottom of the sea with him.

I say Abe is bordering on lunacy.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

I intend to raise the tax for sure, regardless of economic conditions

Now there's a phrase to fill you with confidence. "No matter what shape the country is in, it's going to be Joe Public who picks up the bill in 18 months, so vote for me".

And the tragic thing is - they will.

And structural reform? Why bother? He'll be securely in then, and free to bilk us to his heart's content.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Given the atrocious state of the opposition, the car crash that is Shinzo Abe will probably stroll home. The choices offered up to the electorate will see a turnout which will be lucky to reach 40%. This is depressing and dangerous.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

“It is clear that Abenomics has not had any positive impact on people’s life at all,” said Banri Kaieda, head of the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan.

Bingo. But Abe and the LDP will still win in a landslide. The Japan-Inc model is broken, but no on has the courage to tell the people that, and get the support needed to fix it.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Bingo. But Abe and the LDP will still win in a landslide. The Japan-Inc model is broken, but no on has the courage to tell the people that, and get the support needed to fix it.

Perhaps the reason for this is that the voters can distinguish separate Abenomics and consumption tax increase.

Banri Kaeda? Lol. Couldn't win in his own district.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

@smithinjapan I agree with you and even gave you a thumbs up. But are you surprised? All of you are silly! Japan is not the UK, they are not the USA, they are not Canada. Japan is ranked VERY low on the democratic freedom list. Freedom of press, freedom of politics, freedom of economics. In reality Japan is very low in terms of REAL freedom compared to other industrialized nations. Freedom in japan is a total illusion. People are safe. People sadly equate safety to equality. At this point don't all of you realize that the majority of people who realize what is going wroing with Japan are people liek you and me.... people who have come from more truly democartic nations. Do you have any idea how many posts Japan today has deleted of mine every time I bring this issue up. Freedom of press does not exists here. Just by typing this I am sure they will delete this comment. If you read this I am sure if will not be here the next time you check.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

@Disillusionwd:

LDP has been doing this to Japanese citizens for 70 years.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

wrong

It sprouted in 1955, not in 1944

The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, frequently abbreviated to LDP , is a major conservative political party in Japan. It is one of the most consistently successful political parties in the world. The LDP has been in power since 1955, except for a brief 11 month period between 1993 and 1994, and from 2009 to 2012. In the 2012 election it regained control of government. It holds 295 seats in the lower house and 115 seats in the upper house.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

As Long as the voters put up with it, nothing will change. 3rd world country at best.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Is Abe changing the ministry of educations outlook on teaching history or economics? A lot of changes will only happen if they start there. The reforms that he wants to bring are good but can not be achieved unless education takes a new outlook on foreign policy and economic solidarity in my opinion. Voters can not do anything unless they believe that a completely social bureaucracy should not have total power and take the constitution seriously. There are three generations of persons that have been raised in public schooling meticulously against this.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan should reduce corporate and payroll taxes. Japan is overtaxed and their corporate tax rate is one of the worst in the world. For their citizens, Japan’s payroll tax is also a mess. The combined employer/employee rate of almost 30%. Even worse, unlike the U.S. Social Security deductions, Japan’s has no salary cap. Everything one earns on the job is hit with severity and it’s expected to rise even further in few years. At the least, these increases should be stopped.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Abe is a very interesting fella isn't he?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@Christopher: Please read the article. This proposal has nothing to do with Ministry of Education

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"I'm so excited to vote in the upcoming election."--said virtually no Japanese citizen 20 years of age or older. This is going to be one of the most dismal general elections Japan has held in a long time. The key statistic to understand about the 2012 election is this: Total votes for the LDP, which won a landslide that year, were actually fewer than the total votes it garnered in 2009 when it was defeated in a landslide.

Think about that for a second--a political party goes from losing by a landslide to winning by a landslide, but the number of people casting ballots for that party goes DOWN? Expect total number of votes cast for the LDP in next month's election to be even less (in both the single member districts and the regional blocs).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm not holding my breath, but voters of Japan, please, please vote this idiot Abe out of power, before he destroys the country

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

How about VACATE THE VOTE? NO ONE vote, not one sap. Then, there'll be no "winner".

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@toshiko. The article doesn't have anything to do with education directly, but changing society does. The ministry of education controls how the text books have portrayed foreign relations, warmongering, economic innovation (investment banking), classist society, reporting the news...etc. Have you ever tried to report something that goes against the LDP mainstream? It doesn't last long in the national news because everyone agrees... they agree because they have been notoriously educated in a single mindset. Most Japanese people don't believe they can change politics by voting because the party is more important than the politician. This is also why people don't care about what a politician believes when they vote, as much as to which group the politician belongs to. Whats more people leave Japan to invest, to win nobel prizes, to get recognized as individuals... they don't stay in Japan for this very reason.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Well given that the vast majority of the Japanese public are against nuclear power and the LDP are forcing the restarts on everyone then this will surely be a landslide victory for the opposition...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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