politics

Japanese Communist Party says it will reverse most of Abe's policies

61 Comments

The Japanese Communist Party has vowed to reverse or abolish most polices of the ruling Liberal-Democratic Party if it does well in the Dec 14 lower house election.

Outlining his party's platform, JCP leader President Kazuo Shii said he saw no reason why Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had to call a snap election at this time, TV Asahi reported Thursday.

Shii said his top priority would be to cancel the proposed increase in the unpopular sales tax in 2017. He said Abe has not tried hard enough to cut back on wasteful government spending which is essential if funds for social security are to be found. He said big companies and high income earners should be taxed higher.

Shii also slammed Abenomics, saying the rich are getting richer, while the middle class is struggling.

The party platform also expressed opposition to nuclear power, the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks, the government's policy to exercise the right to collective self-defense and the planned relocation of the U.S. Marines Corp base from Futenma to Henoko, TV Asahi reported.

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Excuse me if I don't laugh out. But this a great joke, a Communist coming out in support of the Middle Class! Shii would be a great actor, he actually kept a straight face when he said it. How could he be in support of the Middle class when Communist don't believe in any class. In their sick minds everyone should be on the same class, poor.

Well, everyone but their elites. Shii and the rest of his Communist party members would be rich while the rest of us would be dirt poor!

Communism, the greatest joke to ever been told.

-24 ( +6 / -30 )

God save us from fools who would try to put out a fire by pouring gasoline on it. The only thing worse than crony capitalism is crony socialism.

-2 ( +9 / -11 )

Joe Bigs' comment above is totally off the mark. He just doesn't know anything about Japanese Communist Party. He is badly mixing it up with other communist parties in countries like North Korea, China, or Russia. I hope Japanese Communist Party will at least double its present seats in the next election. Dear JoeBigs, please take a little time to study what Japanese Communist Party has been doing in this country in the past few decades and what the party actually stands for.

13 ( +17 / -4 )

Joe Bigs' comment above is totally off the mark. He just doesn't know anything about Japanese Communist Party. He is badly mixing it up with other communist parties in countries like North Korea, China, or Russia. I hope Japanese Communist Party will at least double its present seats in the next election. Dear JoeBigs, please take a little time to study what Japanese Communist Party has been doing in this country in the past few decades and what the party actually stands for.

Hello Japanese Communist Party :)...... I mean Onishi-san.

-15 ( +5 / -20 )

The JCP is a pretty mainstream party. It's not like overseas communists like Onishi-san says.

You can look at their platform on their website in English, actually. They have very reasonable positions on many issues.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

Excuse me if I don't...

And so on. I would have thought you would be all for a bit of communism, your heroes in the LDP are all for socialism when it comes to pork barrel contracts for over-represented hick friends who keep them supplied with votes and campaign cash.

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Shii said his top priority would be to cancel the proposed increase in the unpopular sales tax in 2017.

1,040 trillion yen of debt, a 45 trillion yen annual budget deficit, and the man wants to take a measure that will INCREASE the budget deficit, as his top priority. Whippee.

He said Abe has not tried hard enough to cut back on wasteful government spending which is essential if funds for social security are to be found.

Tax revenues are 50 trillion yen. On the expenditure side 31 trillion is in social security spending, and 25 trillion is debt servicing. So he could cut ALL government expenditure (let alone just the wasteful stuff) and he'd still have to borrow money to pay for social security spending.

His "plan" is non-sensical fiction. How does this even pass for an election platform?

He said big companies and high income earners should be taxed higher.

Besides the obvious fact that such policy would drive the rich and big companies overseas, probably reducing the tax revenues rather than increase them, where are his numbers to show exactly how much extra revenue he thinks he'll collect?

The party platform also expressed opposition to nuclear power, the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks, the government’s policy to exercise the right to collective self-defense and the planned relocation of the U.S. Marines Corp base from Futenma to Henoko, TV Asahi reported.

To summarize, the Japan Communist Party opposes everything, and in power would stop everything. There's your vision for the future.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

The consumption tax was inevitable. The wasteful governement spending was avoidable. There is no golden bullet to solve Japan's financial woes, and when you replace self-serving capito-fascism with self-serving communist politicians the resultant quality of life is just a different shade of grey.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

Ahh, it's election time. Promises promises promises.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

I agree with Yoshimi that it's well worth studying the policies and more especially the activities of the JCP. The members I've met don't fit the description of "self-serving politicians". They seem less concerned about gaining power than making things better. They are often involved in local issues, often as simple as making sure old and disadvantaged people get proper access to health and welfare benefits. If you're fighting local politicians and dubious companies who are trying to close public facilities or otherwise make people's lives less pleasant, you could do a lot worse than ask the local JCP for help.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

It's ridiculous to believe that people still think because the party named 'communist', it will do everything in line with that ideology. No one can possibly be so stupid. Come on, the proof is in the pudding in Liberal Democratic Party.

12 ( +14 / -2 )

No chance of these commie fools getting to be PM so we live in no fear of them over turning Abe's policies. Thankfully.

-23 ( +2 / -25 )

Be afraid Storm. The socialists and the Christians are coming... no more silk pyjamas or diamond rings for the rich while people are starving or homeless... It's the end of times for the selfish and the arrogant...

Marx and Jesus make quite a team....

1 ( +2 / -1 )

fxgai got it. Japan is spiraling down, you can't really believe it will change its attitudes toward all its problems, so it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. You put JCP on, that "when" will come much faster and much more violent.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

'Communism, the greatest joke to ever been told.'

I'd say the idea of trickle-down economics is up there with it. Shii is actually a very bright man unlike the chocolate teapots like Abe and Aso over at the LDP.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Japan communist Party is becoming less and less voice in Japan/ Unlike, Russia and China, it is stidking to old old Soviet Union dogma as their selling points. Is it trying to lose more elected members?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Japan has a communist party? It is kinda difficult to believe.

However, their proposition is not far of social-communist ways, they talk about taxing higher the rich to help the poor (or in this case, the middle-class) or cutting down alliances for international trade.

What I fail to see is How these guys think they are going to fund the social expenditure, I mean, what do they mean by wasteful government expenditure?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

If the Japanese Communist Party wants to disassociate itself from the image of brutalities by other countries' communist parties, then why not change the name? Like Japan Community Party. See, communism is associated with restrictions of liberties, state-owned assets, confiscation and re-distribution of wealth. And that is something the Western bankers would never allow.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Ah, it looks like I struck a nasty little cord with the Communist in Japan and abroad, good! Communist hate one thing, the truth and when someone speaks the truth they come out swinging! With their bunk.

Something's are very hard to swallow when your perceptions are dashed against the rocks of truth. A Communist in Japan is no different than a Communist in China, the Soviet Union, Cambodia, Cuba, Mongolia etc etc etc etc...... They hate the truth!

They want everyone to bow before their beliefs and anyone that speaks out against them are deemed unworthy. The truth is that Communist believe that everyone should earn as much as the next bloke. If they tell you they don't, they are lying.

They don't believe in classes if they tell you they do, they are lying. Communist believe that the government should control all wealth, if they tell you that they don't they are lying. They believe that the will of the government supersedes the needs of the people, if they tell you they don't again they are lying. Communist believe that everyone should work for what the government deems as good and anyone that says different is an enemy of the state.

Communism is all about control and those that they deem not controllable are enemies and must be re-educated.

If you lived in a Communist Utopia you would see through their bunk.

JoiceRojoNov. 27, 2014 - 09:50PM JST Japan has a communist party? It is kinda difficult to believe.

The reason it's hard to believe is that they have very few followers in Japan.

A person is a Communist until they actually feel the tyranny that Communism brings. Communist's have always suckered folks into believing that they are fussy bears that are all for the people until they gain power. After they gain power they slowly use it to restrict the people from speaking, believing or thinking.

The only people that do well under Communism are the ones who are related to the leadership, the rest of the people suffer.

I know because I lived under a Communist regime and saw their Utopia first hand. Tyranny is the name of the game.

You may dislike Capitalism, but it is far better to have a chance than to be forced into not having one!

-13 ( +3 / -16 )

Democracy demands there's no harm in taking a peek. Maybe it might be worth considering dropping the label for say The Party of Japan Social Democracy.

http://www.jcp.or.jp/english/

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The JCP isn't going to reverse any of Abe's policies, their support rate is like 5%. The LDP-Komeito coalition will again trounce their nearest rivals, the hapless DPJ, and Abenomics will continue, for better or probably for worse.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Give the guy some credit, at least he's proposing an alternative to Abe and the LDP. Better have a choice of 2 dirty shirts than just one.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

'The LDP-Komeito coalition'

This is a large part of the problem. The Komeito zombies would vote for their party if their leader was a sock puppet.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Gosh, the word "communist" really gets some knee jerk reaction, doesn't it?

What Shii says makes much more sense than the incomprehensible nonsense of "Abenomics," which patently doesn't work.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Not sure why the word communist would cause such trouble in Japan. Take the Liberal Democratic Party which is neither liberal or democratic. American SOFA (status of Forces Agreement) people in Japan hate it because they want Japan to become a free nation again without the American Occupation. Yes I will vote for them! As for foreigners in Japan, gee I would love to help you but you can not vote! Just like I can not vote in America.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@JoiceRojoNOV. 27, 2014 - 09:50PM JST Japan has a communist party? It is kinda difficult to believe.

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

JAPAN Communist Party has been a registered Japanese Political Party since 1945.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The word “communist” can really make some people jump. No system is perfect in the world and no one country follows an extreme ideology. An old fashion outdated way of thinking is in a communist country there is no separation of classes so no middle class, the government controls everything, and there is no truth in everything they say. These all have been proven wrong. An authoritarian communist country that embraces open market economy tends to do better in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, flexibility and growth. Some people like JoeBigs who might have lived in a communist country in the past still stuck with the wrong ideas of the past. All things change over time. For examples, China and Vietnam both are communist countries yet both are also capitalist countries. Their standards of living have improved substantially since opening up. Their political systems are more beneficial for the people as a whole. Yet Japan has been under the control of one political party for decades so the idea that Japanese people are living in a democratic and free country is proven to be an illusion. Maybe it’s time for Japan to make a change for the better and give more support to the communist party. In the back of JoeBigs’ mind he’s probably regretted that he left that country when he realized that his friends and relatives are now prospering.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

After Japan was defeated, Soviet was going to help Japan through JCP as charismatic Sanzo Nosaka was gaining communist members in Japan. Actually USA won, So, USA GHQ did not want to share Japan with Communism, So, it look for none military A Class prisoner in Sugamo war criminal prison. It found Nobusuke Kishi, released and asked to create a Japanese Political organization to squash JCP. Japan did not become Communism, Country. Year after year, JCP members have been reducing.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I don't see the LDP, or the DPJ as paragons of democracy. The Japanese government is so interventionist, it borders on communism enough already. A full on communist is the last thing any country needs.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

What is the objective of JCP policy?

Consider. The JCP would have Japan facing a 50 trillion yen budget deficit, and their plan is to tax the rich and big corporations more. (To some people, that might sound good politically.)

But total combined corporate and income tax revenue today is only 25 trillion yen. So to plug the budget deficit (as any responsible political party should aim to do) the JCP would have to increase corporate and income tax revenue by 300% to 75 trillion yen.

And they'd have to achieve that having hiked tax rates, which is a disincentive for the rich and big corporations to operate in Japan.

So I can conclude that the JCP's idea of raising corporate and income taxes on the big and the rich is not intended to plug the budget deficit, it would never work. But if that's not the goal of hiking taxes, what is?

JCP policy does not add up.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

JCP's policies sound like sweet and reasonable. However they are too ignorant and optimistic of politics like national security and economy. I mean their positions are not based in real economy and international relations. Just saying something sweet that people have good impression on. Still much better than DPJ though. They just be aginst LDP without strong belief.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan has a communist party? It is kinda difficult to believe.

Yep, the same laws that give Japan "freedom of speech" (in theory) and allow right-wing nuts to hold rallies - let Japan also have a Communist party

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@fxdai

What is the objective of JCP policy?

In the short run, to get a few more seats.

Consider. The JCP would have Japan facing a 50 trillion yen budget deficit, and their plan is to tax the rich and big corporations more. (To some people, that might sound good politically.)

I don't disagree with your points in theory. In practice, however, Abe has more or less used your logic, so he shafts the middle class and poor trying to get the revenue he needs while cutting corporate taxes and handing out stimulus packages to make the environment more favorable for the big guy.

If we agree that Abenomics is not just waiting fo work, but not working, and restoring the previous course does not bring salvation - well then, what's left?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

well then, what's left?

Cut spending and excessive regulation, and reform the government and bureaucracy.

The way the Japanese go about spending money is insane. If I were the boss, I'd be telling the Ministry of Finance to instruct all other ministries to not submit budget requests in excess of 98% of their budget for the prior year. This is very modest proposal, given the magnitude of Japan's problem.

I would also stress nothing in my logic shafts the middle class and poor. These JCP people seem to think that it's fair that some should pay upwards of 50% of their income in tax. That's a shafting! And they'd indirectly shaft the middle class and poor through the unintended consequences of their misguided policies.

Abe is wrong to enact these big government "stimulus" spending packages though (but that's not part of my logic).

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Christopher GlenNov. 28, 2014 - 12:55PM JST

Japan has a communist party? It is kinda difficult to believe.

Yep, the same laws that give Japan "freedom of speech" (in theory) and allow right-wing nuts to hold rallies - let Japan also have a Communist party

Stupid comment. You are making little of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The freedom of speech and the right to form political parties are the foundation of democracy.

Japan Communist Party is a solid political party with 19 parliament members. It is a minority party but you cannot make fool of minority parties.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Actually I'm kind of sympathetic with some of the Communist party's ideals. They are the only ones who seem interested in improving Japan's lot, and shaking things up

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@Christopher

No reason to apologise for recognising the worth of the Communist Party. Any intelligent, fair-minded person would feel the same. ( I'm talking about the genuine thing, not the twisted monstrosity that passes for Communism in China).

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Hey, if Komeito's Yamaguchi san says we need to continue Abenomics, then by golly... do we?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I'm talking about the genuine thing, not the twisted monstrosity that passes for Communism in China

Of course... you have an example, just one throughout history, of the "genuine thing" and it's long term success, right?

Please share.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@Loki

Hungary did well, as did Jugoslavia. The Scandanavian countries were exceptionally successful. Cuba was potentially a perfect society till Uncle Sam took against it.

So no, Communism's never been tried properly. Here's hoping....

2 ( +2 / -0 )

There are many political parties in Japan. There are also new kind of right wing parties. This kind of political environment disabled Japan back to fascism country. There are new kind of right wing parties, too. LDP and DPJ can't ignore them as they are Japanese people, too.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Shii is being dishonest. If he ever had the chance to rule Japan he would ruin the economy and Japan's international relations. Japan would become a hermit kingdom that would survive on the handouts of others. Sound familiar doesn't it?

Shii would cut unemployment by hiring more people to work for the government. Then he would raise welfare benefits for anyone who didn't want to work. Immigration flood gates would be open to anyone with a sob story and when they got in he would give them welfare money. But, how would Shii pay for all this?

To pay for all this he would raising taxes on the Middle class, rich and corporation even higher than they are now. He would do exactly what every Communist regime has always done, bleed Japan to death and end up destroying this great nation.

If the JCP thinks that they will be the next to lead Japan, they are living a pipedream. His party doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of ruling anything.

BertieWoosterNov. 28, 2014 - 12:59AM JST Gosh, the word "communist" really gets some knee jerk reaction, doesn't it?

How would you react if a "Fascist" Party of Japan was making these kinds of claims? I expect that you won't answer this most simple of questions. But, if you did you will answer with sarcasm because if you were honest your hypocrisy would be exposed.

BertieWoosterNov. 28, 2014 - 12:59AM JST What Shii says makes much more sense than the incomprehensible nonsense of "Abenomics," which patently doesn't work.

Let's talk in two years and see what happens. Because you and I know exactly who will win next election and who won't.

lucabrasiNov. 29, 2014 - 01:01AM JST @Loki Hungary did well, as did Jugoslavia.

If the Communist Party of any of those nations you mentioned had done well they would still be in power. Communist Hungary fell because it's economy was about to collapse.

As for Yugoslavia the only reason that it survived as long as it did was because of Tito. Tito ruled with an iron fist and played his cards right when it came to the economy. His economy was a liberal economy and not Communist one. So, Yugoslavia wasn't a true Communist utopia. But, when he died and the hardline Communist tried their hand at ruling the nation it fell apart.

lucabrasiNov. 29, 2014 - 01:01AM JST The Scandanavian countries were exceptionally successful.

Scandinavian nations have never been ruled by a Communist party.

lucabrasiNov. 29, 2014 - 01:01AM JST Cuba was potentially a perfect society till Uncle Sam took against it.

It isn't the US's fault that the Cuban economy is falling apart. The fault falls squarely on Fidel Castro and his Communist Cohorts. You are correct in one thing Cuba's economy was a Communist economy and the elites did well when the Soviet Union was around providing them much needed subsidies.. But, when the Soviet Union collapsed so did the elites wealth.

Hell, even Fidel Castro now admits that a Communist economy is doomed to fail.

http://business-econ.blogspot.jp/2010/09/why-cubas-economic-model-failed.html

Communism is a fantasy conceived by a dreamer. The only way that Communism can work is if the entire world is Communist. But for that to happen every single person in the world would have to give up "want", "need" and free thought.

Communism needs blind obedience for it to work and it's greatest foes are free thinker.

fxgaiNov. 28, 2014 - 03:58PM JST Cut spending and excessive regulation, and reform the government and bureaucracy.

Well said. also Japan needs to lower it's corporate tax rate it's too bloody high. It needs to lower their inheritance tax rate.

Simon FostonNov. 27, 2014 - 04:38PM JST And so on. I would have thought you would be all for a bit of communism, your heroes in the LDP are all for socialism when it comes to pork barrel contracts for over-represented hick friends who keep them supplied with votes and campaign cash.

If you believe that the LDP is a Communist party you really need to get out more. Let me help you out.

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

"If he ever had the chance to rule Japan he would ruin the economy and Japan's international relations"

Too late. The conservative nationalists running the show have already done that.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

If you believe that the LDP is a Communist party you really need to get out more.

Read the post properly for goodness sake.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Capitalism, Communism, Fascism, and Socialism are all bad, the only good ism is Nudism.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Communism today is the same as it always has been and folks today are the same as in the past. Communist make huge promises and tell folks great lies and folks fall for those lies. Yes, other politicians and political groups make those same promises. But, the huge difference is you can remove those other politicians come election time. But, to remove a Communist from power takes an armed revolution.

Communist will do and say anything to get into power and after they take power they slowly impose their maniacal rule.

JeffLeeNov. 29, 2014 - 07:56AM JST "If he ever had the chance to rule Japan he would ruin the economy and Japan's international relations" Too late. The conservative nationalists running the show have already done that.

If you consider Communist China and South Korea to be the entire international community then you would be right. But, they are just two nations that have an (yes, an) agenda that they are trying to push.

Simon FostonNov. 29, 2014 - 09:49AM JST Read the post properly for goodness sake.

Actually I did, but it seems that you forgot what you posted, so I will help you out some more with a refresher...

And so on. I would have thought you would be all for a bit of communism, your heroes in the LDP are all for socialism when it comes to pork barrel contracts for over-represented hick friends who keep them supplied with votes and campaign cash.

Just follow the link I provided and you will see the light. Always here to help. :)

Yoshimi OnishiNov. 27, 2014 - 04:16PM JST Joe Bigs' comment above is totally off the mark. He just doesn't know anything about Japanese Communist Party.

I know a whole lot more about the Communist Party of Japan than you think. Just because I am not Japanese doesn't mean I haven't done my homework.

Todays Communist Party of Japan's ideals are the same as the day it was founded. The difference is now they have pretty little mascots with big smiles and happy faces. They also say that they won't do this or that if they take power, but those are just lies. Perfect example, the Communist say that they accept the emperor and won't try to remove him. But, that is one giant lie. If they took power they would try and force the emperor out. Communist may say that they have changed, but if you actually ask their rank and file you would see that they haven't

They haven't changed, they just say they have.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@joebigs All your talk about Communist elites as the only ones getting rich sounds very much like only the capitalist elites getting rich in the monstrosity that capitalism has become. Even Japan is no longer immune to this. As for free thinking ( by the way, I wouldn't define a reactionary rightist who uses the revealing singular 'the communist' as a free thinker ), have you seen what Abe and his cronies are trying to do to freedom of the press and freedom of speech lately? Surely as a 'free thinker', this must disgust your principles.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Is there any 'purely' capitalist or communist economy in the world today ? Capitalism incoperates social security systems, structures and 'government' ownership. Likewise Communist China positively encourages the hoarding of personal wealth aquired by industries wholly owned by entrepreneurs.

Principle of old school communism, that no private ownership of property should be allowed is essentially a discarded theory, consigned to the history books outside of North Korea.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Long ago, the JCP was like other Communist parties of the world (promoting bloody, violent revolutions ), but in 1958, the then-party head Kenji Miyamoto changed all that.

He introduced "Smiling Communism", (Communism through peaceful democratic means) by emphasizing housing, education, etc.

<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KenjiMiyamoto(politician)>

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Actually I did...

You did? I would never have guessed.

but it seems that you forgot what you posted...

It probably would to you, yes.

Just follow the link I provided and you will see the light.

I have better things to do with my time. Or I might just enter a bunch of totally random answers and see what comes out.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The way the Japanese go about spending money is insane. If I were the boss, I'd be telling the Ministry of Finance to instruct all other ministries to not submit budget requests in excess of 98% of their budget for the prior year. This is very modest proposal, given the magnitude of Japan's problem.

It is a very modest proposal and for that reason it would not be worth the effort. As you yourself point out, the revenue is about 50 tril and the expenditures somewhere around 100. Making 100 into 98 is not going to greatly slow down Japan's debt growth.

I would also stress nothing in my logic shafts the middle class and poor. These JCP people seem to think that it's fair that some should pay upwards of 50% of their income in tax. That's a shafting! And they'd indirectly shaft the middle class and poor through the unintended consequences of their misguided policies.

That's the same argument Abe uses - you shaft the big guys and they'll just go squeeze the little ones. So you give some advantages (lowering their taxes and stimulus are actually similar except you can be a bit more directed in your punch with stimulus packages) to the big guys and hope they trickle some down to the little ones. This plan did not work.

As for whether rich people should pay over 50% of their income in tax, it is not necessarily indefensible. His riches are built on the backs of countless little guys working their backs off. Besides, even if he pays 70% taxes he's liable to be living better than the little guys even if you cut their tax rates to zero.

Here's a wacky idea. Tax the rich 70% taxes and tighten up reporting so they can't divert it to some offshore account or any of the other tax-evasion tactics. However, allow them an option to lower their tax rate if they demonstrate they've diverted some of their enormous incomes to the little guys under their command. That would allow them to at least get something more direct than the very indirect benefits of taxation (to the rich, taxation is much more of a pure loss than the middle class, let alone the poor), and the little guys get more money to buy things, thus moving the economy.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

This country needs a radical change. Vote JCP.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Cannot emphasize enough the need to water down the LDP majority, send out a clear message to Abe sans arrogance and selfish intent in calling this election. If Abe san wanted to Teflon coat his leadership from possible rivals, using tax payers money must be punished serverely at the ballot box. DPJ who seem to be struggling to field 200 candidates should 'compare notes' with the JCP. Both need to convince the electorate they have policies to prove they can bring about long term growth in the economy.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

No wonder there still is a dinosaurus out there

Given all the concrety antiquities occupying mainstream

The oldest opposition party deserves 10%

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Kazuaki Shimazaki,

Whoah...

It is a very modest proposal and for that reason it would not be worth the effort.

So... do more than 2% to make it worth the effort. 2%, 5%, 10%, it doesn't matter. The point is to actual start reducing spending, rather than increasing it year after year. The actual goal is to shrink the debt relative to the size of the economy. In the absence of an economic miracle, cutting spending is the way to do that.

That's the same argument Abe uses - you shaft the big guys and they'll just go squeeze the little ones.

JCP policies would kill the little people. Low wages under Abenomics are still better than no wages.

So you give some advantages (lowering their taxes and stimulus are actually similar except you can be a bit more directed in your punch with stimulus packages) to the big guys and hope they trickle some down to the little ones. This plan did not work.

Japan has been trying to spend to stimulate it's economy for decades now and it has resulted in nominal GDP that is less than it used to be. That obviously failed.

Abe's biggest failure is that he hasn't done enough, fast enough. Corporate taxes haven't even been lowered yet and you have the nerve to state is hasn't worked. No wonder why!

As for whether rich people should pay over 50% of their income in tax, it is not necessarily indefensible. His riches are built on the backs of countless little guys working their backs off.

Oh, OK. I guess the little guys would all be much better off without jobs then. No wages at all. The rich guy should just push off and hire some suckers someplace else, like overseas. The last thing anyone needs anywhere is rich people, creating great businesses and hiring people. That's the role of government, surely!!

Besides, even if he pays 70% taxes he's liable to be living better than the little guys even if you cut their tax rates to zero.

So what if he was? Got a case of envy there? Mark Zuckerburg is a young guy who has created I don't know how many thousands of jobs. So he's rich. Does that matter more than the thousands of jobs he is responsible for creating?

We want people getting rich, but telling people we're going to take away the majority of their income is no incentive for anyone to do anything great. Incentives matter.

Here's a wacky idea. Tax the rich 70% taxes and tighten up reporting so they can't divert it to some offshore account or any of the other tax-evasion tactics.

The rich won't be here to pay for such a stupid unfair and bureaucratic system, or won't waste their time earning money in the first place.

However, allow them an option to lower their tax rate if they demonstrate they've diverted some of their enormous incomes to the little guys under their command.

That's ridiculous. Who is going to be paid to do the work of checking this? With who's money? And all for what purpose? All to be sure that the people hired by these horrid rich people are actually getting a salary?

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@JoeBoggs: If you consider Communist China and South Korea to be the entire international community then you would be right. But, they are just two nations that have an (yes, an) agenda that they are trying to push.

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S Korea is npt cp,,imism Coutry. N. Lorea is. It seems that you are the only one who labwla A Korea as Communism. So you know Japanese communism. Have you studied Japanese Marxist books? For instance, H. Ohuchi. Ir has been a long time since JCP sprouted in 1945 It evolved since Nosaka time.

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I messed up typing the Wikipedia link last time!

It's actually:

<en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KenjiMiyamoto(politician)>.

Thank You.

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Cannot stop laughing! OMG my jaw hurts! Absolutely hilarious JT!

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Small political parties in Japan effectively irritate Big parties like LDP. Some of them are very respected and many Japanese are glad they talk for people. And LDP and DPJ do not ignore. After all they are fellow Japanese.

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This country needs a radical change. Vote JCP.

Radical change, yes, but not the JCP. Certainly, a party with a more market-friendly policies are desperately needed, but, it they exist, they've been marginalized, or outspent by the big two.

Abenomics is merely a continuation of the failed policy that led to this horrible, economic situation. Tax and spend policies don't work.

I agree with fxgai on regarding corporate taxes. Raising them at all would hurt the economy, and push more capital out of Japan. However, working people deserve as much of a break as businesses do.

Governments all over the world have long chosen to kick consumers in the teeth with tax hikes, and unbalanced tax codes that force them to cough up more of their income.

PM Abe wants a "cycle of virtuous consumption" to occur, but has done all he can to make sure that doesn't happen.

To plug the deficit, first, spending has to be cut. The problem isn't that government doesn't collect enough money. The amount of cash it siphons from the economy (and sends down a black hole) is enormous. The ward offices by themselves collect tremendous amounts of money.

To make spending cuts less painful, audits could be conducted to find waste, and/or corruption (to which Japan isn't immune). Reducing the tax burden on working people would go a long way to increasing consumer spending and confidence. As things stand now, people have neither the incentive or the resources to spend more than they already do (without incurring onerous credit card debt).

Encourage people to start private retirement savings plans (RSPs). Contributions should be tax deductible. A long term approach would be to build Japan's entrepreneurial class up through education, and tax breaks for start-ups.

Far too many people give in to the old mindset of working for a big company (where many languish) when they should be taught that they can start a venture, and benefit more from their hard work.

Short term: open the Japanese economy up to trade, either unilaterally, or join the TPP. Deregulate, and free the economy as to make it more appealing to foreign investment.

The days when taxation could help an economy are over (if they ever existed). Printing money, deficit spending, and tax hikes only hurt the economy. Worse it unfairly, and needlessly imposes huge burdens on low-income earners, particularly the young.

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Encourage people to start private retirement savings plans (RSPs). Contributions should be tax deductible. A long term approach would be to build Japan's entrepreneurial class up through education, and tax breaks for start-ups.

Sometimes I feel that Japan is not modern enough.

I mean, Don't they have already private retirement savings?, In my country, it is mandatory that when you work, a portion of your salary goes to companies that have investment programs and keep your savings ensured by the time you retire, you cannot escape from it, but you can choose which company use and investment programs inside those companies (risky is that your savings can get better interest rates and better retirement fund, but you can also lose, or conservative where your retirement is ensured but with little gains). If you put more into that "savings account" your taxes are lowered, and just recently, part timers are also enforced to put up a little savings accounts.

Extremes are bad either way, you cannot have full communist economy or full capitalist economy, besides, communism at its best is kinda austere, how do you stop consumerism? people have everything basic covered, but you have little to spare for extra stuff, even the rich. You cannot reduce consumerism and still make 6 Billion yen of sales of an AKB48 single, for example.

Experiences from other countries call for long term policies to reduce debt (and these are really long long term) or shock policies that cut instantly expenditure, which is best for Japan? I don't know, to create a mix of both policies (it is doable) requires also the will of the people, and since Japan has more aged people, it could be possible to have this will for a long time, since it requires patience, but also requires to change somethings on those minds too, like creating certain future behavior (e.g. escalating corporate ladder should be by merit and not age, family, etc - it is an hypothetical example, since i don't know how it really is in Japanese companies)

Just my two cents...

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