politics

Party leaders make last-minute appeals before upper house election

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JeffLeeToday  07:44 am JST

@Mister X

If employment, global trade, child poverty and homelessness were in a bad condition, then the LDP and its policies would be the first to be blamed.

I think the point is that even if there have been improvements in those areas it's highly debatable how much credit the LDP deserves, if any. Put it another way, the LDP would be foolish not to list their achievements after six years of the Abe administration but they never seem to do that. All Abe ever does is make very vague promises and go on about the Constitution.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Well argued? It's just reeling off a bunch of statistics without any explanation how improvements are a result of LDP policies.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Yet no one can seem to see much good in the Abe administration, whereas a lot of bad stuff is readily apparent - corruption scandals, barely competent Cabinet Ministers, failure to do anything about the birthrate, tepid consumer demand, pensions, salaries or, of course, the unconstitutional vote value disparity that favours rural voters and will help Abe get a majority today.

Spot on analysis.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

If employment, global trade, child poverty and homelessness were in a bad condition, then the LDP and its policies would be the first to be blamed.

That doesn't change the fact that non of their policies are responsible for the bullet points provided by the poster I quoted.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Ganbare Japan!July 20  10:37 pm JST

Well argued a alwaysspeakingwisdom, as usual.

Well argued? It's just reeling off a bunch of statistics without any explanation how improvements are a result of LDP policies. If it were well argued we would all be convinced. Actually each of them can be easily refuted. Foreign observers of Japanese politics are not all unreasonable or unintelligent people. At least some would describe themselves as having right-wing or conservative views, i.e. similar to those of LDP supporters. Yet no one can seem to see much good in the Abe administration, whereas a lot of bad stuff is readily apparent - corruption scandals, barely competent Cabinet Ministers, failure to do anything about the birthrate, tepid consumer demand, pensions, salaries or, of course, the unconstitutional vote value disparity that favours rural voters and will help Abe get a majority today.

dougthehead13Today  03:59 am JST

The elections are tomorrow. Let us not speculate on possible outcomes.

Why not?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

@Mister X

If employment, global trade, child poverty and homelessness were in a bad condition, then the LDP and its policies would be the first to be blamed.

As it is, the government is being blamed for the wage-suppression policies willfully practiced by employers in the private sector.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

1) Record low unemployment rate 2.3%

This is not related to LDP and its policies

2) Record college employment 99%

This is not related to LDP and its policies

3) Homeless at record low 5,000. In San Francisco 75k alone.

This is not related to LDP and its policies

4) EU- Japan- Free trade agreement .

Gives more power to the globalists and multi-nationals

5) CPTPP trade agreement.

Gives more power to the globalists and multi-nationals

6) Bankruptcies across Japan at 29-year low.

This is not related to LDP and its policies

7) Japan's Child Poverty Rate Down, 

This is not related to LDP and its' policies

8) Household assets in Japan at record-high ¥1.83 quadrillion.

This is not related to LDP and its policies

9) 2018 marked the lowest suicide rate in Japan for 37 years.

This is not related to LDP and its policies

What LDP actually did/wants to do for Japan

1) Change the constitution so the lives of Japanese soldiers will perish while fighting America's imperialistic wars

2) Rushing a bill through the diet that allows for mass immigration.

3) Pushing for mass tourism with a target of 60 !!! million foreign tourists annually after the 2020 Olympics.

3) Tax sales hike to 10%

4) Did absolutely nothing with regards to their promise of improving social welfare.

5) Both Shinzo Abe and his wife were involved in corruption affairs, these were proven but no further action was taken.

6) Unlawful removal of demonstrants by the police during LDP rallies.

7) Giving licenses to big international casinos for which only Japanese citizens need to pay an entrance fee.

8) Doing absolutely nothing to counter the low Japanese birthrate number except for cosmetic solutions such as Platinum Fridays.

9) ...

The above is why absolutely nobody should vote for LDP

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The elections are tomorrow. Let us not speculate on possible outcomes.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

As long as you can tell stories and jokes, you can get votes, as simple as that.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I wish they'd stop cold calling us on the home phone landline.... there must surely be some data protection / privacy Law being broken here... and it's a waste of public expenses since we, can't vote!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Too late what you did many wrong things for Japan Mr. Abe, tomorrow in 10 minutes or today soon, a good answer to Japan will come 'til end of the day, doomsday coming soon!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

AlexBecuToday  11:08 pm JST

Japanese support Abe..

Most of them don't. I'm not sure if you know anything about politics but in quite a few countries, Japan included, it's possible to get to be head of government without actually being all that popular.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Japanese support Abe and the reason why his going to win.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

alwaysspeakingwisdomToday  10:35 pm JST

Why the LDP will win:

1)

Repeatedly copy/pasting the same statistics proves nothing.

Ganbare Japan!Today  09:37 pm JST

You haven't really explained why a party that has the support of only one third of the public deserves to hold two thirds of the upper house seats.

@ Simon Foston-san. I dont need to explain anything.

I'll just take that to mean that you can't explain anything.

Japanese voter will explain it tomorrow when PM Abes LDP is given two-thirds of the House of Counsellors Seats. This is looking like a crushing victory!

It would be a crushing victory if most eligible voters turned out and voted for the LDP. Especially if the LDP faced a credible challenge. Two thirds of Japanese voters will either vote for opposition parties or stay home, and the result will be continued mediocrity and mismanagement by a ruling party led by a vapid non-entity that hardly anyone is really all that enthusiastic about.

This makes the attempts to portray Shinzo Abe as some kind of political demi-god all the more amusing, so do please keep them up.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The above is why the LDP deserves to win 2/3 majority in the upper house. Now you tell with numbers, why they should not win. If you can that is. Any takers?

Yeah, they want to stifle the economy with a hike in the sales tax to 10%.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Well argued a alwaysspeakingwisdom, as usual. JT "experts" will attempt to claim LDP has no "legitimate" win. You can claim this in any democracy in any nation. Bottom line is, LDP and PM Abe is the most popular party to rule. Period.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Why the LDP will win:

1) Record low unemployment rate 2.3%

2) Record college employment 99%

3) Homeless at record low 5,000. In San Francisco 75k alone.

4) EU- Japan- Free trade agreement .

5) CPTPP trade agreement.

6) Bankruptcies across Japan at 29-year low.

7) Japan's Child Poverty Rate Down, 

8) Household assets in Japan at record-high ¥1.83 quadrillion.

9) 2018 marked the lowest suicide rate in Japan for 37 years.

The above is why the LDP deserves to win 2/3 majority in the upper house. Now you tell with numbers, why they should not win. If you can that is. Any takers?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

always speakingwisdom - your figures may well be correct.

But the core problem is the lack of turnout.

In the last election out of a possible 100% if all eligible voters voted, Abe only garnered around 24% or so.

So in reality about 75% of the adult populace didn't choose him.

I understand this is the system and is similar to some other countries (except Australia where compulsory voting sees the turnout in excess of 90% and people take a far greater interest in who governs their lives).

Unfortunately the apathetic public, by voting for the same ol same, or not voting at all, weakens the basic principle of what constitutes a democracy - the right to have a voice and the right to be heard.

Milliions over the world have died and are still dying for that right. To not actively partake in what history has held from the ordinary people for eons is morally repugnant imo.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"in 2016 In the last Lower House election the LDP's share of the popular vote was 33.28%. They managed 35.9%

In 2017 the LDP won 48.9% of the vote in the single member districts . 33.28% in the PR block. In a Parliamentary democracy, where there are many parties running( 8 in 2017 election) . The LDP's results are about right.

Look at the UK 2015 election, The Conservatives got 33.7%( 8 parties running). Conservatives won

Look at New Zealand 2017 election, National got 44% (6 parties running).  National won

Look at Australia 2109 election, Liberal got 28% ( 8 parties running) Liberal won

When there are many parties running in an election, they tend split the voter pie into many pieces. In comparison, in the US there are only two parties, so get results such at 51% -49% .

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Crushing victory? More a further crushing of individuals who apparently have no idea what's going on. So what happened to premium Friday's? Unpaid overwork (they that being the LDP) increased the legal amount of hours, how's that Childcare going?, oh and the North Korean thing with kidnapped citizens...have not seen one returned. The islands in the north? Getting even one back? Wage rises? Not seen one in 20 years crushing is about bout right it's is crushing.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

You haven't really explained why a party that has the support of only one third of the public deserves to hold two thirds of the upper house seats.

@ Simon Foston-san. I dont need to explain anything. Japanese voter will explain it tomorrow when PM Abes LDP is given two-thirds of the House of Counsellors Seats. This is looking like a crushing victory!

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Hoping to coalesce the anti-LDP vote to become a viable counterbalance to the ruling coalition, opposition parties are joining forces by fielding unified candidates in all 32 single-seat districts across the country.

I hate the LDP but this is just dumb. It's pretty obvious that they won't attract many votes because even if they do get more Diet seats they won't be able to agree on anything except criticising the LDP. If they did have more in common they'd all be in the same party.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

alwaysspeakingwisdomToday  08:12 pm JST

"The LDP barely has 35% support"

Really? The polls have him between 45% to 59%. The average is 52%.

The only poll that matters is the election. In the last Lower House election the LDP's share of the popular vote was 33.28%. They managed 35.9% in the last Lower House election in 2016. I wouldn't pay too much attention to other polls.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

 Japan is in great shape and now is the strongest country in the world,

Hardly, and hardly.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"The LDP barely has 35% support"

Really? The polls have him between 45% to 59%. The average is 52%. Why should the LDP get the 2/3 majority? Simple, Japan is in great shape and now is the strongest country in the world.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

vanityofvanitiesToday  07:41 pm JST

I am paying NHK watching fee at my house in the metropolitan area but I am now staying at my home town to take care of my old mother. If I buy a TV set here, I have to pay another watching fee here to NHK despite it is clear that I am not watching TV at my house in the metropolitan area. This is ridiculous.

Each household requires its own TV subscription. That's always been fairly uncontroversial although obviously it can't be convenient for everyone all the time.

The party is proposing NHK to use scrambling for people who do not want to watch or pay to NHK TV. I think It is very reasonable.

I think it's reasonable too but it'll never happen. Opponents of the idea will argue that if NHK goes down that road they'll end up only broadcasting content that people want to watch, as opposed to the dull but worthy stuff that the establishment thinks they ought to watch.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Hardly an election, more of a mandate.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I will vote to The Party to Protect People from NHK. If you buy a TV set, NHK watching fee collector will soon visit you and ask to pay watchng fee. Electric shops and NHK are colluded. The purchase information is leaked to NHK. I am paying NHK watching fee at my house in the metropolitan area but I am now staying at my home town to take care of my old mother. If I buy a TV set here, I have to pay another watching fee here to NHK despite it is clear that I am not watching TV at my house in the metropolitan area. This is ridiculous. The party is proposing NHK to use scrambling for people who do not want to watch or pay to NHK TV. I think It is very reasonable.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Ganbare Japan!Today  04:15 pm JST

Get that two thirds majority, PM Abe!

You haven't really explained why a party that has the support of only one third of the public deserves to hold two thirds of the upper house seats.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

AgentXToday  05:36 pm JST

The Japanese will vote them in again because they largely asleep at the wheel and unable to see how duped they are due to years of hardcore brainwashing as they go through the education system and beyond.

But they won't really. The LDP barely has 35% support so the election system that lets mediocre candidates get elected with less than 50% the vote is as much to blame as brainwashing. Low voter turn out could be interpreted as tacit support for the government, but it could also indicate apathy, indifference or a literal lack of alternatives - the centrist and left-leaning parties can't field candidates everywhere so sometimes the only choice is LDP or LDP-clone. Especially in this election with the stupid "unified candidate" strategy the opposition parties are trying.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I think it's quite obvious that the economy and other plethora of internal hardships are far more pressing than the constitution that is obviously working well at keeping Japan away from mass suffering again...

And participating in proxy wars is not a good way, for obvious reasons for those who care to look, to kickstart said ailing economy...

But as a few mentioned above. The Japanese will vote them in again because they largely asleep at the wheel and unable to see how duped they are due to years of hardcore brainwashing as they go through the education system and beyond.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Going through the normal motions.

What a pity.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

yep he tried to give a speech at Akihabora but was heckled and shouted down its actually very funny he is saying "it's rude to shout at me" no it's rude you have shafted us?

scumbag. You are an intolerable git but luckily the Pesident of a party that will be voted in again and again and again so Shinze doesn't have to anything just avoid his mum his wife and public opinion yet still get voted in. Vile scumbag.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Abe is playing Whac-a-Mole at this election.He is just appearing at total random places to avoid hecklers......but if the hecklers do manage to make a point they are quickly subdued by the boys in blue!

Democracy at its finest and well done Abe for being a complete coward.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

With the South Korea causing trouble, boycotting Japanese goods and making illegal demands for money from Japanese companies, Japanese electors want stability and a party that stands up to bullies. That party is the LDP, led by PM Abe.

The weak and tiny minor parties cannot be trusted to stand up for Japan at the this crucial time. Get that two thirds majority, PM Abe!

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

Not photogenic.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

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