Abe, Ishiba face off in debate over economy, constitution

Good luck to both men

they must have been hit by some uglystick.

So right right wing, and right right right right wing.

i like Abe’s idea of forcing retired people into slavery for the rest of their lives. Solves the aging population problem. Smart cookie.

Not going to happen, but should Ishiba take the leadership, one has little clue about what he would actually do.

The other day he was saying that there is a need to make a mechanism by which wages rise. He says he wants to revitalize the (aging) regions.

No mention of a single idea he has to actually acheive that.

Abe at least had 3 concrete ideas about revitalizing the economy, even if he only got around to having one of them enacted in a significant way (and even then it was just appointing Kuroda, who himself just had his minions print loads of yen and buy up public debt like crazy).

Japan needs more policy leadership from the political class, rather than leaving policy details over to un-elected, life-time employment cozy job bureaucrats. 

Alas, none of them has a clue! And the masses just sit around waiting for the masters in Kasumigaseki to make everything great again.

At least we have peace.

I am convinced again Abe is indispensable to afloat Japan.

Ishiba looks like a happy chappie

Oh! That is the choice.? Please, should I vomit now or descritly vomit in a corner later.

just can not win. What about me? Selfishness I know but really against these inward looking twats I'm a prince.

allowing workers aged 65 or older to continue working beyond the retirement age.

Respectfully and not wanting to sound too rude but please NO! I understand the demographic cliff and everything and how you want people paying taxes till as late in life as possible , but it’s these very old boys that everyone is patiently waiting to graciously retire so the rest of us can get on with at least trying to face these very real and urgent challenges to the nation and economy. We need a bold new guard that understand the times and can plot a new course to revitalize and re-energize a very tired and lackluster workforce. Tired from being forced to wait this long already! The ‘deflationary mindset’ and ‘national crisis’ IS these very stubborn old boys that refuse to do exactly that!

Onegaishimasu!! Worth begging for !

Victory for PM Abe is a foregone conclusion in Sept 20 LDP party presidentship election.

I would much appreciate the government butting out of my life. I should be allowed to work until I decide not to. Universities? Talking to you!

Patricia: "I would much appreciate the government butting out of my life. I should be allowed to work until I decide not to."

Move to the U.S., where a Red Wave is underway.

This is a choice between the lesser of two evils. Shigeru Ishiba is correctly pointing some of the problems of the Japanese economy, however his understanding of the solution is not accurate. He thinks in terms of increasing the revenue of the central government, rather than how to reduce spending. In this regard, Abe has it right, because while his economic policies are wrong, just like Ishiba said, at least he has recognized the need to reduce spending, that's why he is trying to privatize a lot of State companies. This is the right way to go. The retirement age must be increased, and taxes must be reduced, but this cannot happen unless there is also a reduction in spending.

B.l. SharmaToday  08:41 pm JST

Victory for PM Abe is a foregone conclusion in Sept 20 LDP party presidentship election.

True, unfortunately. Still, it doesn't really matter all that much as the problem isn't so much Abe as the people who keep re-electing him. The LDP chose this cretin to lead the country, and when he's gone they'll keep choosing more cretins until the opposition get their act together and kick them all out.

PM Abe was clear points winner over Minister Ishiba. Press on and stay the course, PM Abe. Fight!! Minister Ishiba, should save energy for the fight with Koizumi-san in several years, over the LDP Leadership.

Oh the choice!! Nippon Kaigi or Nippon Kaigi? Democracy is a joke here!

So right right wing, and right right right right wing.

exactly

Oh! That is the choice.? Please, should I vomit now or descritly vomit in a corner later.

For me, I'm going to do both- once for each of them.

Victory for PM Abe is a foregone conclusion in Sept 20 LDP party presidentship election.

True, unfortunately. Still, it doesn't really matter all that much as the problem isn't so much Abe as the people who keep re-electing him. The LDP chose this cretin to lead the country, and when he's gone they'll keep choosing more cretins until the opposition get their act together and kick them all out.

Then how can anyone in their right mind label this country as a democracy??

Loyal Peasants and Obeisant Minions of Your Benevolent Liberal Democratic Masters, observe and rejoice. The Ministry of Truth has delivered its proclamation.

LOL. This is NO exaggeration- the Kempeitai or the thought police disbanded and ALL of them entered the post war Education Ministry

How do you like them apples?

This election is called a "presidential election." But in fact it's an election of the LDP chairman. There're precisely 810 eligible voters in this election, 405 incumbent lawmakers and another 405 registered LDP members. Since a majority party in the Diet will eventually elect a candidate from its party to a prime minister, this "presidential election" is tantamount to the election of the nation’s prime minister. 

A very absurd system, indeed. Shouldn't the whole system be scrapped and changed so that all the nation may be able to vote and say who will lead this country?