No more Mr.Clean, No more idealists

Yukio Hatoyama, now that he is the former Prime Minister, left the office. And today, Naoto Kan has been elected as the new one.

I basically haven’t been able to accept all the policies of the Democratic Party of Japan. The new child allowance? Tuition-free high schools? It’s nothing but a brown-noser for the people.

However, unfortunately, the people selected the party last year because they thought the party might change Japan. Nothing has changed. In fact, it’s getting worse.

With his ideal and illusional thoughts and words, Yukio Hatoyama had just only proved “I am just ignorant of the world.” Naoto Kan is not a hereditary politician. It’s been a long time for such individuals to become the Prime Minister. It seems that the people interviewed on TV expect too much from him. Before we get started losing the expectation, I think we ourselves should put something in our mind.

First of all, I think the people should throw away the idea; “All politicians must be clean, especially money problems.” Ofcourse all politicians must not commit crimes at all, but all politicians should be elected not because they are clean but because they have both strength and skills.

Please take a look at incidents happening around our country. There are a banch of problems that politicians are required to have diplomatic skills. “All people are basically good people,” is one of virtues of the Japanese, however, politicians often must read between the lines. No more Mr.Clean, no more Mr.Idealists. We need a fighter.

Second of all, we have two aspects in our mind. One is public mind, and the other is private mind. In your private mind, you can chase whatever you want. If you want get big money, you should work hard, make up interesting and amazing (ofcourse lawful) ideas and implement them. However, when you face national problems and try to get over them you should put yourself away and think about what the first priority for the nation is. You would find it selfish as you see some people on TV saying “I want to get more money to child allowance.”

Incidentally, although Ichiro Ozawa intended to achieve a strong majority, I think the Social Democratic Party leaving the coalition was good for the Democratic Party of Japan. The SDP always claim ideal but unfeasible ideas without any concrete altanatives. I strongly want to ask Mizuho Fukushima where you were supposed to relocate the base and how you did for your plan. I will give this phrase to her, “Easy for you to say.”

“No arms, no contingency plans” always “NO”

Mizuho Fukushima, the chief of the Social Democratic party, has rebuffed the decision for the relocation of the Futenma air base in Okinawa and has also decided not to sign the cabinet approval as one of ministers.

Surprisingly, she claimed that the Social Democratic party would not end the coalition between the Social Democratic Party, the People’s New Party and the Democratic Party of Japan. In addition, she is not supposed to resign her present post.

Hatoyama has burdened himself with his own words

“fraternity” is his main word as a politician. The Democratic Party of Japan(the DPJ) claimed in its manifesto last year that they moved the military base from Okinawa prefecture to other prefecture. Since the huge landslide victory last year, Hatoyama has been struggling with his situation.

Unstable words sound more unstable day by day.

The Democratic Party of Japan (the DPJ), The Social Democratic Party and The People’s New Party (kokumin shin tou) have formed the tripartite coalition for about a month. People already know they agreed with each other because of the Diet seat at the Upper house, and people also don’t know this coalition is going to last by the election which is supposed to be held in summer. With this agreement, the DPJ can also achieve the majority in the Upper house. In other words, if the DPJ wins the election in summer, they don’t need to keep their coalition.

Frustration against the Liberal Democratic Party governing Japan over 50 years is the main reason why voters choose the LDP. The lawmakers of the DPJ definetely know it. In order to win the election in August, the LDP drastically proclaimed their manifesto, which just sounds like pursuing dreams and probably only tend to attract people. I think the manifesto now makes it dubious to achieve due to its idealistic perspective. Unstable Utterances on the problems of the base in Okinawa of the Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, were one of the effects of both of the coalition and the manifesto.

According to articles about Yukio Hatoyama on the Internet, he advocated that bases, which are tactically built by the convention between Japan and America, should be transfered to other prefectures or overseas. But now, as the top person of Japan and as the leader of the governing party, his words is falling in constraints. No one can make a treaty alone. He has to discuss and conclude this matter with America, considering the tripartite coalition and his personal policy.

I’m definitely not saying Okinawa have to endure all of parts of the treaty. I mean, words which he tentatively gave people in order to win the election and get the Diet seats will ironically hold himself. Okay, if he, as what he said “other prefectures or overseas”, indicated its tangible region, people living there would resist his words. What if he would indicate overseas? Do we have to compensate its country for transferring bases? What if the country would not accept our ask? Is it okay just to impose something troublesome bothering Japanese to other countries?

It is undeniable that we were the one who choose ‘who was better’ in the election, so we have to keep watching where our choices go. However, I can’t help thinking that people of the LDP is kind of a dreamer. I like the word ‘dreamer’, which is the word; ‘people accomplished their dream after breaking the wall called REALITY’, not the word; ‘sweet words just only let people comfortable’. It is important for politicians to say sweet and uplifting words towards people, ofcourse I know it. I hope his words would be not only ones dangled in front of people to vote but also ones of which people can be proud in the future.

No one wants to be “old maid” in power games.

After the general election held in August in Japan, the LDP(Liberal Democratic Party) seems to get lost in the forest named “Who becomes the president of the LDP?”.

During over-50-year dominance by the LDP, Yohei Kohno was the only president of the LDP who couldn’t become the Prime Minister. This time, someone who is supposed to be the president of the LDP is supposed to be the same as him.

Even me, as an amateur on politics, it’s understandable that politicians of the LDP have difficult in raising their hand under circumstances. It’s totally a headwind for them, however, someone in the party should be in charge of the president. “Ummm…it’s like an card game…an old maid…” thinking like that, I read newspapers everyday.

Ever since August 30, I’ve been thinking someone young, such as Nobuteru Ishihara should become the president of the LDP. Although it’s actually going to be tough time for him, we have one proverb like this; “The position can make you grow”. Ofcourse I think we need to warmly watch for him without negative views. I think the new president of the LDP should keep his/her position this time so that the LDP can obtain trust from voters. It needs a long term, I think.

But unfortunately, Nobuteru Ishihara stepped down from the race. “He doesn’t think it’s about time. Besides, it’s said that he’s a bit weak in his mental way. Once someone older says something tough, he easily gets down.” my father said it with laughing. “Because of his father, Shintarou Ishihara.” he added it. Ishihara Shintarou is famous for an hawkish politician. He is also a strict father. “Pay much respect for the elder made him a wimp?” thinking like that, I watched his talk about stepping down on TV. Actually, I guess he wanted to raise his hand but people around him didn’t let him do it. “Be patient. Please wait until the time has come. At least two or three years, you have to wait for it.” I guess someone must say it to him.

Today, I heard that Sadakazu Tanigaki declared his candicacy for the president of the LDP. I don’t know if he, whose appearance is bureaucratic rather than politician, will be able to go through this tough situation.

“He’s smart and intelligent, but he has no charisma.” my father said.

Ummm…If all politicians of the LDP had had their enough charisma, they would have not gotten such results this time…