Abe's ruling bloc set for solid upper house win: polls

marcelitoJuly 18  09:03 am JST

...but of course the LDP PR boys posting here on JT would never admit that.

Of course not, and that's what makes me wonder if these people aren't exactly what you say they are. I mean, I would prefer an opposition party like the CDPJ to take over but I can admit they have a lot of problems. I think the average LDP supporter would admit that the LDP is far from perfect too. However the pro-LDP comment writers here all seem to follow the same protocols:

Repeat endlessly that the opposition cannot be trusted.

Vague allusions to positive developments that have occurred during Abe's tenure - low unemployment, high corporate profits, Olympics, decreasing childhood poverty, good US-Japan relationships, i.e. brown-nosing Donald Trump.

Attempts to slime critics, along the lines of Shinzo Abe's disgraceful, petulant reaction to hecklers in Akihabara in 2017.

Ostentatious praise of Shinzo Abe that's strongly reminiscent of North Korean propaganda about the Kim dynasty.

Irrelevant "what about?" comments about the west, especially the USA, and how much worse it is than Japan.

No admission of any sort of weakness or fault on the part of the LDP. Ever. Don't go wasting your time looking for any.

So yes, it does all look like a bit of a PR campaign and I wonder what the moderators' policy is on posters using this site for paid political activities.

The other thing they won't admit is that the LDP are going to win because of voter disinterest and apathy, not because anyone thinks they're any good. Long-term LDP supporters are just going to continue voting for the local party good old boy out of inertia and a sense that it'll help to bring home the bacon to their particular districts. Young people just aren't going to bother voting.

HiroJuly 16  08:17 pm JST

Many wondered why voters still select the LDP even though scandals are getting revealed left and right while Abe many goals bare no fruits. Answer is simple. Is because at least he tries.

Another problem, actually - at least the DPJ tried too, when they were in power. Yet they didn't succeed at much either and got voted out in 2012. So that argument doesn't really work.

HiroToday  08:17 pm JST

Many wondered why voters still select the LDP even though scandals are getting revealed left and right while Abe many goals bare no fruits.

Some have speculated that they're voting more for their local LDP candidates than they are for the Prime Minister.

Answer is simple. Is because at least he tries. 

Yet some would have us believe he succeeds brilliantly at everything. That doesn't seem to be your point of view.

HiroToday  08:17 pm JST

Problem with why many of his idea's can never get implemented is because of the oppositions constantly are hampering them.

The problem with that argument is that there is no effective opposition. Abe has the media on his side, no opposition party is big enough to seriously challenge the LDP and Abe has no serious challengers for the LDP leadership. He's had solid Diet majorities. He might have tried hard. He has no excuses for not succeeding.

Many wondered why voters still select the LDP even though scandals are getting revealed left and right while Abe many goals bare no fruits. Answer is simple. Is because at least he tries. He may not have done many great things but at least he want to change stuff and even gotten sick several times running as PM. Problem with why many of his idea's can never get implemented is because of the oppositions constantly are hampering them. A government will always has problems,scandal,setbacks and oppositions attacking at every turn, but Abe governments still tries hard to do the things they promised. And that matters for most of us. Unlike other politicians who promise many things and once get elected immediately abandon them.

The more the opposition paint them in a bad light, the more it proof the LDP is gaining support. Over the years there just aren't any worthy candidates that proof they are capable to tackle Japan problems it is facing. At least Abe government try their best even if there are countless setbacks. We can relate with them because they also making mistakes like every human unlike others who hide their flaws and announce to the world they are perfect and wouldn't do anything wrong if they are selected and think they could do better. Those who had been in office and say they haven't make any mistakes or haven't done anything wrong,only means they haven't done anything worthwhile and is afraid to make new changes. Only those who step forward and tries means something, even if they might face failures.

alwaysspeakingwisdomToday  02:11 pm JST

Why I will vote for the LDP

Record low unemployment rate 2.3% ...

At least you've got some statistics there, but there's no indication how any of them are actually a result of LDP policies. Some of those things could well be happening regardless of who's in charge or what they've been doing.

Shame no poster for NHKから国民を守る党 on that board.

Why I will vote for the LDP

Record low unemployment rate 2.3% Corporate bankruptcies in Japan hit 28-year low in fiscal 2018 Record low homeless 5000. In LA there are 80k homeless. The number of people who took their own lives in Japan stood at 20,840 in 2018, marking a year-on-year decline for the ninth consecutive year, Japan's Child Poverty Rate Down, 

This is why Shinzo Abe and the LDP will win. They deserve to win. Japan is great shape and the numbers and stats show it.

I will cast my vote for the LDP.

If anyone bothers to research how and who made the LDP it will become apparent why they are continually in power.

Simon FostonToday  01:02 pm JST

A large number of them are members of Nippon Kaigi and other such groups, so they may be feeling pressure not to cause problems for a PM who's promoting the right-wing nationalist militarist agenda.

I see. So does the average Japanese person not know about Nippon Kaigi or just not care? I imagine a kind of reasoning by cost-benefit analysis is not uncommon among those who are aware, where the perception of the LDP as a party that can "get stuff done" takes precedence over any discomfort people might feel about their nationalist shenanigans.

Even when more and more people are against the idea of changing the constitution,

Really? The polls are split 50/50. In fact pro reformers are gaining strength and numbers.

" So their is hope that a better informed younger generation might in the future turn the tables. "

Really, the youth are PM Abe biggest supporters

" While 49% of voters aged 60 and up said they support Abe, according to a Nikkei survey conducted last month, the figure among citizens in their 20s reached 70%"

https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Datawatch/Abe-has-Japan-s-youth-on-his-side-as-political-age-divide-widens

As the population ages change of any sort is difficult. The under 30s perhaps under 40s just don't care anymore having grown up and been trained to "Shogani"

Anyone who has a functioning brain realise that the LDP are just functionaries of the beauracracts that actually make policy. That certainty was showen during Kans term. Apparently the government/ media narrative was it was his fault Fuckashima melt down, forgetting the previous administration were in control for years before. They stop any change, dragging their feet and sabotaging any attempt to make policies that benifit those deemed unworthy. Hell Aso San has no idea what the finance ministry does but is nominally their boss.

Yet people vote for them, I believe the term Dumbarse is a well deserved epithet

JJ WToday  12:05 pm JST

What is it about Abe that makes people keep supporting him?? I know the common refrain is "political apathy" among the Japanese electorate, but why Abe in particular? It seems like even with his scandal-plagued administration that man is politically bulletproof. To my knowledge he's the only prime minister who's managed to stay in office longer than a couple years within the last decade or so.

Well, one thing to consider is that long-term LDP supporters are often voting for the local candidate, rather than the party leader. The way things are now, once those candidates get re-elected none of them want to challenge Abe. A large number of them are members of Nippon Kaigi and other such groups, so they may be feeling pressure not to cause problems for a PM who's promoting the right-wing nationalist militarist agenda.

Go for the Super Majority PM Abe. You can do it!

And when Abe starts taking money out of YOUR pocket to support you relatives, many of whom you dont even know, dont complain. (One of the changes Abe wants to push though as a constitutional amendment!)

Abe's desire to change the constitution is not limited to Article 9, there are a slew of other proposals that he wants pushed through, the most important being that it would no longer be necessary to have a 2/3rds majority to pass ANY amendments to the constitution prior to it being sent to the sheeples for a national referendum to enact them into law!

This is scarier than changing Article 9, but Abe is hiding behind this one change, to keep the people's focus away from his real agenda!

I'd cast my vote for the attractive ladies.

In this case, they can't be any worse than who we have running things now I guess...

Odd how people continually vote against their interests.

Yes, this phenomenon has always been a conundrum for people who can and like to think, but the sad fact is that the misnomered homo sapiens prefers not to think and nowhere is this more true than in Japan where the general population has never been educated to ask the question "why", and once inducted into the work force and subjected to the stressful regimen of long hours and boring work duties, does not have the time, energy or inclination to give thought to what harm their politicians are actually doing to them. Still, I think it would be wrong to assume that Japan's political coma will go on forever. The chronic "Groundhog Day" scenario of the LDP's hegemony will end when a generation of young Japanese appears which has learned how to think thus terminating the Jurassic Period of Japanese politics.

I was talking to a very intelligent Japanese acquaintance about my frustrations regarding the LDP continually winning every election. Her response was essentially: "that it boils down to experience. If the LDP politicians have always been in power, that means they have all the experience. Members of outside parties have zero experience. How could people vote for someone who has no experience?" So, she sees it as a kind of catch-22. But, that kind of thinking certainly makes sense when you consider that Japanese society places very, very high value on seniority and experience and age, and will favor that over creativity and skills from someone with less experience/age.

Not saying it's right or wrong, just passing along the thought.

What is it about Abe that makes people keep supporting him?? I know the common refrain is "political apathy" among the Japanese electorate, but why Abe in particular? It seems like even with his scandal-plagued administration that man is politically bulletproof. To my knowledge he's the only prime minister who's managed to stay in office longer than a couple years within the last decade or so.

Ganbare Japan!Today  08:24 am JST

Go for the Super Majority PM Abe. You can do it!

So how does Abe deserve two thirds of the seats when the LDP are probably only going to get one third of the vote?

politicians getting cuter each year here...

I will bet the turnout will be under 40% because of these "polls". Hmmm ... election meddling by the media?

Things are changing outside of the media bubble, opposition Twitter and social media are making an inroad that mainstream media and the LDP are blissfully unaware of.

My wife and daughters get video of unreported protests, political arguments and policies on their phones, informing them on a format they use. So their is hope that a better informed younger generation might in the future turn the tables. NNot holding my breath but it might happen. Then you have the LPD back room mover and shakers literally on their last legs. 5 or six of them could possibly pass on within a year causing much regrettable confusion for the public.

Ganbare Japan!Today  08:24 am JST

Very promising news. Japanese voters are not stupid as so many JT "experts" on here claim.

Indeed not. Only 31% support the LDP so the other 69% can't be that stupid. It's lucky for Abe that 31% support doesn't mean the LDP will only get 31% of the seats.

Seven years of the same s***, the economy or his abenomics policy is a huge failure and he wants to increase tax even more, YET the people keep on voting the same guys in, it is absolutely mind boggling. Out with the old, in with the new.

I'd cast my vote for the attractive ladies.

Very promising news. Japanese voters are not stupid as so many JT "experts" on here claim. They see a government standing up for Japan against bullies like South Korea, boosting the economy and reducing unemployment to record low levels. The voters will give PM Abe a mandate for a road map to Constitutional change.

Go for the Super Majority PM Abe. You can do it!

This actually had to do with the recent clashes with SK and NK. More and more people now want the country to stand up for themselves and no longer want US troops to intervene. If the neigbors were friendly the public would not had wanted to change anything but all these years show that this is just wishful thinking. The new generation is already sick of it and want to see the nation in a more active role.

Some are genuinely wondering why people vote against interests? Oh I don't know. It's probably because in the long reign of the ldp regime any sort of credible opposition has been decimated and brought to nought, or probably the fact that free and fair opposition media is absolutely non existent in japan, or the fact that voicing opinion contrary to the status quo is actually frowned upon in japan, or the fact that the myth of 'nothing ever changes' is etched into people's psyche by the very same single party regime, or the fact that the election system is rigged to prop up the one party regime? Take your pick.

Yubaru summed it up nicely. Odd how people continually vote against their interests.

Even when more and more people are against the idea of changing the constitution, they still will vote for their LDP candidate.

Folks can complain all they want, but until they start voting in others who are against the idea, nothing will change!