politics

Abe pledges to boost economy as upper house election campaign begins

38 Comments
By Linda Sieg

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38 Comments
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but surveys suggest the turnout of this group will be lower than among their parents and grandparents.>

I've never seen such a politically apathetic country before, very few people seem to care about who is running the shop (into the ground)

4 ( +5 / -1 )

“This is an election to decide whether we will forge ahead strongly with economic policies or return to an era of darkness and stagnation,”

Yeah it would be terrible to return to the era of darkness and stagnation that existed under LDP rule....oh wait.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

How many times is that now?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is an election to decide whether we will forge ahead strongly with economic policies or return to an era of darkness and stagnation,”

With you at the helm its a return to an era of darkness and stagnation,”

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Another day, another pledge. Starting to become a tad cliche, no?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

If only the young Japanese could know what a buoyant economy was like! However, they don't! But they do know that something is majorly wrong as they aren't having families and producing children The inaction of their elders is directly responsible for the blight that the young are suffering....and there is no end in sight.....

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I now understand where the term Déjà vu originated.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

This is an election to decide whether we will forge ahead strongly with economic policies or return to an era of darkness and stagnation

Return? We are already there Abe-kun... what are you offering? More paper a̶r̶r̶o̶w̶s̶ airplanes and cartoon cut outs?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Abe pledges to boost economy as upper house election campaign begins

He said exactly the same thing four years ago when he took office and at every opportunity since then. However, we are still waiting for his pipedream to come true. His three arrow economic policy is a load of hogwash with no sound economic structure.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

It would be nice if companies in the private sector, and not politicians, got together and "pledged to boost the economy."

But that ain't gonna happen. That's why old-style capitalism is failing.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Yes, Abe and Damenomics have had 3.5 years to fix things. Alllllllll he has done is put Japan back on a war footing.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

The word "boost" used in the headline is the perfect word for Abenomics. Abenomics has boosted prices across the board ... and have done little else. As a result, we are seeing higher prices everywhere. I think we've seen enough "boosting" or "revving up" or whatever. Forget Abenomics ... they are grinding the economy up ...

3 ( +3 / -0 )

The LDP. So why do they get a free pass after mismanaging the place for decades?

I suspect that one of the reasons is that a lot of people in the seats that count, i.e. the over-represented rural ones, are voting for hereditary oligarchs backed up by the vote-gathering and fundraising organisations created by their fathers and grandfathers, who just happen to belong to the LDP. Sometimes these people split from the party, for whatever reasons, and when the LDP run candidates against them they still win. I think for the most part, though, they stay in the party for the added power and influence it affords them, hence the continued free passes.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Japan is stuck in a time machine and can't find its way out, while its neighbour has been racing ahead, in business, education, a rising standard of living, more billionaires and millionaires joining the ranks weekly and all that from a one party state from a country that so many people seem to despise. I look around the world, at the US, Europe, the middle east, Africa, South America, so much political confusion, filled with lies, promises, corruption it just carries on. But the the people of Japan have to make a decision, only the people can bring about change, they have to see through the lies and promises otherwise things will never change, they think voting is a waste of time, things will never change, but, you have a vote, use it.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

It's a system that keeps on keeping on, I guess. With the Komeito/LDP envisioning nothing for the future. They really believe in themselves and don't believe much beyond that. The "opposition" doesn't represent anything in particular either. I think things will keep on weakening. This is a cycle of depressed ambition and self-reenforcing inwardness.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The LDP party bus has but one gear, reverse !

4 ( +5 / -1 )

hidden inflation - Product quality or quantity that decreases despite a decrease in price. Hidden inflation occurs when products remain at the same price, yet are offered in lower numbers or lower quality.

If you're interested, here's a web site that follows the hidden inflation in the US. I see this happening here a lot too. Stopped buying many things, especially treats and cakes because of this. Same price but smaller slices or a reduction in toppings/flavor.

http://www.mouseprint.org

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

@Alistair Carnell Let's not leave out Komeito who are always along for the free ride.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

He's GOING TO boost the Japanese economy.

What has he been doing up till now?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

"For the other 23 years since the bubble burst, who’s been running the show, in a continuous parade of incompetence, corruption and failure?"

Um, the bankers? Their greed and ignorance created the bubble you speak of and the most recent bubble. What's wrong with blaming the people who actually created the problem for the problem? Is this the kind of mampy pampy society we've created?

It's like blaming the police, but not the thief, for a burglary.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Parole, parole, parole, ...

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@JeffLee are you letting politicians (policy makers) and bureaucrats off the hook?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Just a minor point to ponder. Reaganomics, Thatcherism, Stalanism... and examples too numerous to list have mostly been expressions coined retrospectively by others to describe significant economic, political, philosophical approaches. Abenomics? Where did that come from? The self proclaimed "Juche" springs to mind.

You ain't no democrat, bro!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Abe pledges to boost economy

That's novel!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Abe Pledges.....Abe Urges.... Abe Promises.....Abe is Upbeat about Abenomics....

Yet, after 4 years he has delivered nothing. The man does not have the guts, leadership or ability to run a household, let alone a nation.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

No, Abe will NOT boost the economy. He is lying.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Yeah, we all heard that one before...

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I pledge to stop taking Abe's pledges at face value.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

These pledges by Abe to improve the economy have become quite a regular feature of his tenure....

3 ( +3 / -0 )

He doesn't even have to pledge, and he will find the LDP does well nonetheless. Elections are a charade here.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Headline should read:

" Abe repeats the same one line "

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Abenomics is pretty much the same as the "qualitative easing" that takes place almost everywhere else in the first (and not only the first) world, where it also gives a "boost," results market in addiction to the boost, but little real economic recovery, despite Keynesian claims that the "boost" will start a positive feedback cycle of growth. QE has not really ended. http://www.forbes.com/sites/investor/2015/04/29/the-end-of-qe-isnt-really-the-end-of-qe/3/#3b565cf1675a It seems unlikely alas that Abenomics will end either.

Ozawa seems to be the only party leader to be predicting Abenomics doom. The Kaikaku party leader, a sort of Japanese Bernie Saunders, suggests that money should be printed for households, "kateinomics".

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Abe pledges to boost economy as upper house election campaign begins

Abe wants to continue his current priority on economic development, rather than valuing human life.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Abe has pledged that the next pledge he pledges to pledge, will be the last pledge he ever pledges...... honest.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Define "Boost the economy". I would hope that it means raising/maintaining the standard of living for most people in Japan...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Define "Boost the economy"

in Abenomics-go , "help my friends holding a top position at big JP corp".

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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