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© KYODOJapan's only woman cabinet minister embroiled in graft scandal
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Tony G
Lol
maybeperhapsyes
A cynic would say they were all on the take.
I say it would be a shame if the old boys didn't back her up. (which they wont)
Just one woman in the cabinet is bad enough. Zero would be terrible and reflect badly on the PM.
But hey...I never voted any of these dudes into power.
Do the hustle
Cue Cheech and Chong, “Man, I was framed!” Being the only woman in the cabinet does make her an easy target for any kind of political snipe.
UlsterBoy
Banks are supposedly all on top of local Compliance regulations. Don't Politicians have Compliance regulations too, and ... Compliance officers to whom they can consult ?
Though I guess not, since Banking Compliance regulations stipulate that when dealing with a person with Political connections you need to be extra vigilant. Perhaps it's time for Politicians to have Party Compliance Officers, just like Banks ?
Schopenhauer
Komeito and Japan Communist Party have strong fans. Because they extend helping hands to the weak and the poor when they are in trouble. They do not take money from them when they are asked for help or consulted. While it is a well known fact that people cannot go to LDP politicians without envelopes of money.
sf2k
Ok, so whoever had 17 days and Katayama in the pool, you are a winner!
BertieWooster
So what? Abe did it, why shouldn't she?
Halwick
So much for women politicians being more ethical and honest than their male counterparts. In other words, women politicians are no more no less ethical than male politicians.
And should be held to the same level of skeptisim and scrutiny as male politicians are. Let's not absolve her of any wrongdoing because she is female....and a "victim of political snipe."
More power to her....so long as she comes clean. But let's not forget, she's a politician and didn't get to her position without being one.
Hmm...Had to look up her background. She served her first term in Japan's House of Councillors, having been elected in July 2010 as a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). She was one of 83 so-called "Koizumi Children," LDP candidates elected for the first time amid the widespread popularity of reformist prime minister Junichiro Koizumi; Koizumi touted Katayama as a "madonna of reform." Was considered by the LDP as candidates for the 2014 gubernatorial election in Tokyo.[7]
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuki_Katayama https://www.jimin.jp/english/profile/members/114669.html
Seems Katayama has a long affiliation history with the LDP. So she may not be as "politically clean" as many here believe.
factchecker
If you can't beat em join em?
IloveCoffee
What difference does it make if a cabinet minister is a female or a male? Do you think just because an MP is a female, she will be a tolerant liberal angel? Remember Mio Sugita who said that gay people are unproductive? Or the mayor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike who a vicious self-described right wing nationalist?
People need to stop associating gender with particular social positions or policies.
Ganbare Japan!
Prepare for big lawsuit, Shukan Bunshun. They cannot prove any money was received by Katayama-Sensei. Seems like horrible sexism by a left-wing magazine.
Halwick
It's often the female or LGBT or political-correct-inclined who makes gender or orientation an issue in the first place. When PM Abe announced his current cabinet, it was immediately noticed that there was only ONE female cabinet minister.
What matters is, the person has the experience, qualifications and ability to perform the duties, regardless of gender, diversity or political-correctness.
Were they censured for their statements and held accountable? Are they still in office? Last I heard they still are. Now if they were male, they would have been censured and forced to resign, no doubt.
Then there shouldn't be any double standards where gender is concerned. Female, LGBT or whatever politicians, CEOs, activists, etc, should be equally scrutinized and viewed with equal skepticism, and be equally held responsible and accountable for their actions as their male counterparts are.
Problem is, in today's hyper-political-correct-diversity-conscience mindset, they aren't.....at least not equally. For whatever shortcomings they have or commit, it's always blamed on the "good 'ol boys" or male-bias establishment.
IloveCoffee
@Halwick
Diversity of ideas is good, and should be advocated for. Diversity of gender is pointless, especially if these people have the same views and ideas. You could have 10 females and 10 males, but if they all have the same ideas and views, you would see the same policies and results. You could have 10 males, but if every one of them has their own different opinions and ideas, you would get much more different policies and outcomes. Competition of political ideas is just as important as competition of businesses in the market.
coskuri
She makes efforts to fit in. Being the only minister without a necktie, she couldn't also be the only one without a scandal.
How could they all have the same views ? Men's point of view and experience of having to wearing a skirt uniform, of getting pregnant and of being the only minister of their gender is similar to women's ?
IloveCoffee
Well apparently they can, since apart from the ultra conservative two women i listed above, i remember seeing other women from the government who made equally worse statements on other social issues regarding man-female relationship. Being pregnant is of no concern to anybody, i am more talking about policies regarding social norms and expectations.