politics

Noda says LDP making pledges it won't be easy to keep

15 Comments

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Friday criticized the opposition Liberal-Democratic Party's election manifesto, saying LDP leader Shinzo Abe is taking a simplistic view toward implementing changes.

Speaking during a visit to a solar farm in Kawasaki, Noda said Abe's pledge to revise the Constitution and change the status of the Self-Defense Forces is not something that can be done simply, TV Asahi reported.

Meanwhile, Abe told reporters that the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) should look at its own manifesto and how many pledges it broke before criticizing other parties.

Abe said his goal is win the Dec 16 lower house election and then secure victory in next summer's upper house election, which will give the LDP more than the two-third majority needed to revise the Constitution and SDF status.

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15 Comments
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@globalwatcher I agree to the extent that I like Noda's financial policy. On the other hand, I like Abe's security policy and the latter is harder to come by in Japan. Besides, there IS a chance that what Abe proposes might work, since economics is finicky.

My choice: Vote Abe in. Let him change the Constitution and get Japan to be more defense-oriented. About then we'll start seeing the initial indicators of what he's proposing economically. Depending on how it goes I'll decide whether to kick him out or leave him in.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Just because Noda's being a bit hypocritical doesn't make him less right. And the worst thing is that Abe basically just ADMITTED that he was PLANNING on breaking those promises, but that's okay anyway?!? Why would anyone vote for that?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Noda is correct, but he's like the kid that speaks from experience of the same thing -- the DPJ was elected into power for the exact thing he is criticizing. And when the LDP comes to power next month, Abe will renege on his promises and blame it on the DPJ. In other words, there is absolutely no difference between the two people, or the two parties (or any of the other splinter groups that have been formed from dropouts of either or).

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Payroll tax of Japan is only 2% -lowest among developed countries. You need to share the burden. You are all in this together.

This is terribly misleading;

Resident Tax; Resident tax is roughly equal to 10% of the previous year taxable income.

Pension Tax; From September 2012, the pension tax rate on salaries will increase. The current Tokyo rate is 16.412% which will increase to 16.766%.

The total Japan Pension payroll tax is paid 50%/50% between company and employee. As such, company and employee both pay 8.383% each from the monthly salary plus commuting costs refunded to employee.

The pension payroll taxes will gradually increase by 0.354% every year until September 2017 to the target rate 18.300% set by the government.

Withholding tax increases; (To help pay for Tohoku); From January 1st 2013 to December 31st 2037, the withholding tax rates will be raised by 2.1%.

This surtax is part of the measures to finance the reconstruction after the Great East Japan earthquake that happened in March 2011.

For example, the new rate for the 10% withholding tax will be 10.21, for 20% withholding tax, the tax rate will become 20.42%

Health and Nursing insurance taxes:

Japan Health Insurance Association announced that the Health insurance tax rate will increase from March 2012. Each prefecture has a difference tax rate.For example, in Tokyo, the current rate is 9.48%, which will increase to 9.97%.

We get taxed like crazy, SHARE the burden. You come here and share it with us ok.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I find it hard to see how the LDP will not have a lower house with 2/3rds right wing parties supporting constitutional reform after this election.

Which by the way, the constitution needs reform. There is no question about that. Article 9 aside (the only thing Japan's constitution is known for), the Japanese constitution, as a national constitution of any country is a joke. It is an occupation constitution, originally written in English by a handful of law students pulled in by MacArthur - probably in crayon.

I think the current constitution should be torn up and rewritten from the ground up - and I have no problem with going back to the Meiji Constitution as a base for doing that as Hashimoto is suggesting. My only wish for all this is that a referendum is used. The constitution should be apolitical. The impending right wing landslide in the next election should not be abused as an opportunity for political or ideological amendments without a clear direct public mandate for the amendments itself.

But if the Japanese public signs off, it would be good for Japan to actually have its own real constitution for the first time since it lost the war.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

PontepilateNov. 24, 2012 - 01:26PM JST

I have a question for you, pontepilate..

Is Abe modifying what he has said two days ago? From what I have read, sounds like he is softening his position. What does he truly believe? What is he fighting for? I am just curious to know who he is. Hope he is not a flip-flopper like Romney. This kind of man has no moral character as a leader that I truly avoid..Usally man like him is a political prostitute.with multi-colors and no core belief..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is just plain and simple for the voters, do you want a right wing nationalist Japan OR are you happy with the present constitution and the Japan you have. The choice is simple,the japanese people are controlling their own destiny.I hope everyone comes out to vote on this one.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The LDP promises may not be as naïf as Noda would want people to believe. Abe is actually conditioning his promises on being given the mandate through the ballot to modify the constitution, banking on the rising nationalistic feelings across the country in favor of revising the constitution to give Japan the power to "effectively" arm itself, not excluding nuclear weaponry, against the perceived rising China threat. So he is actually telling the voters, this is the majority we need to single handedly effect these fundamental changes in our status as a nation. This is very different from the DPJ promises to dish out money to families while not raising taxes for the next four years following the elections (without saying how they were to streamline government spending to get the money), promise to move the bases out of Okinawa with ensuring understanding with defense partner, and the stopping of the part completed Yanba dam project labelled as wasteful spending...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Have continued to stress that neither of them have provided any clarity thus seem to have much clear idea of their own as to where they should be putting all the strategic money on to create more growth and sustainability for Japan Inc going forward. Believe Japan is mature and educated enough to have more business minded experts in the cabinet to focus more on industry specific strategies and plans to maximize the use of the nation's resources from a purely economic perspective.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

And I need to add one important issue:

Save money for rainy days.

Why do you allow Abe to issue JGB bond now? You want to save it for something absolutely necessary for rainy days ahead. What do you do when you get another big earthquakes in Japan? You will have no money left to restore your country. I guess this is a bad scenario but it may happen and I am very realistic. Save JGB option for these rainy days ahead. You do not need JGB now. You can pull yourself out without it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

LDP have 50+ years experience. the haven't done much in the last 20-30 years, but hopefully for all of Japan, the lost of power 3 years ago would help them be more productive if they won the election and become the ruling party.

It would be nice to think that they had reflected on what went wrong with a view to doing a better job in future, wouldn't it. The re-election of Shinzo Abe as party president leads to me to conclude that this is sadly not the case.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I am supporting Noda based on fiscally conservative view of his policy while Abe's is too radical, dangerous and destructive for a long run. Abe will take Japan beyond repair.

IMFand Shirakawa (BOJ) have already warned-a massive JGB plan of Abe is a distructive move.. . Keep it mind Noda is doing exactly what IMF has been advocating for Japan to do-marginal tax hikes.They mean very well for Japan. Payroll tax of Japan is only 2% -lowest among developed countries. You need to share the burden. You are all in this together.

Noda is much much safer choice for Japan at this moment, move forward with Noda.Why do you all want to go back to LDP that created all these mess to begin with? You need to tell me.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Your ego is writing checks your body politic can't cash!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's the pot calling the kettle black.

While Noda may be right, but the DPJ didn't really keep their promises either.

but LDP have 50+ years experience. the haven't done much in the last 20-30 years, but hopefully for all of Japan, the lost of power 3 years ago would help them be more productive if they won the election and become the ruling party.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

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