My opinion of this week(535):
Energy policy of Japan
The whole country is now in the middle of House of Council election. I have just noticed one thing about Manifesto presented by several political parties. No energy policies are mentioned in any of Manifesto of major parties. Most mention about ecology, specifically about the reduction of CO2. But no parties show any of energy policies connected closely with the necessity of reduction of CO2.
When it comes the securities of a nation, I think there are three categories concerned. The first one is defense from military attack from other countries. Most parties show their policies on it in connection with the change of constitution. This would have become the most important issue if pension record issue did not occur just before the election campaign started.
The second securities of a nation is securing food for people. Food self-sufficiency rate in this country is just only about 40% while other Western country's food self-sufficiency rate is almost 100%. It is a serious issue as a matter of fact. Some major parties including Democratic Party of Japan mention the necessity to improve the rate in relation with basic agricultural policies of the country in their Manifesto.
The third securities of a nation is securing energy for national economy. No parties virtually show any of their basic policies about energy at this time as I wrote already.
Just in the middle of the election, there occurred Nigata Cyuetu Earthquake on July 16. This was the second large earthquake following the big earth quake happened three years ago almost at the same territory. The serious issue was a fire at Kashiwazaki-Kariha Nuclear Power Station caused by the earth quake. The safety of nuclear power station itself has become the major concern not only for Kashiwazaki-Kariha Nuclear Power Station but also for nuclear power stations in this country. City of Kashiwazaki ordered Tokyo Electric Power Co. to stop all nuclear seven reactors at Kariha Power Station. Some serious shortage of electricity will occur during this summer at Tokyo metropolitan area.
Japan is earthquake countries and safety of a number of nuclear stations spread all over Japan will become the third serious security issue of energy for this country sooner or later.
We must reduce CO2 gas. But at the same time, we must secure energy which is
necessary to live. Nuclear power station now share about 30% of total electric
power source. The country cannot stop using nuclear power to get electricity so easily. Or shall we stop using it like Germany to secure the safety for residents?
I found no imagery policies especially on nuclear power generation in Manifesto
of any of political parties at this time. It is sure that this will become on other very important policy issues in the year to come. I suggest that each major parties especially of LDP and DPJ are responsible for showing their basic energy policy in the long run even in this summer election in one way or the other.
I think it another big issue for the people to decide their voting performance.
2007/7/21
Tadashi HAYASE
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Fundamental reform is necessary for the present pension system
My opinion of this week(534):
The election of House of Councils has started on Thursday. I am quite anxious to watch TVs and read newspapers on various issues. The biggest concerns of people concentrated on pension system which is ignited by incorrect recording problem at Social Insurance Agency. Prime Minister Abe repeated to say that all people who paid insurance fee will be guaranteed to get pension money. People seem to take it very funny. Why not? People take it for granted because the Government is fully
responsible for it at any rate.
People are now more concerned with the basic pension system itself rather than recording issues. Prime Minister Abe and ruling parties started criticizing new pension system proposed by Democratic Party of Japan. They said there exists no fund which is able to pay basic pension money to all low income people. Ruling fronts criticize that such pension plan is quite unrealistic.
Ozawa Ichirou, President of DPJ answered to such criticism saying they can create such fund by making fundamental change of administrative system of central and local governments. Such debate itself still involves a number of ambiguous points. But I
think it fine that such debate is being done in various way under this ircumstances. Most people of Japan now feel that the present pension system is not working any more. Young ages are afraid that they may not be able to get pension money when the time comes.
A number of young men do not participate in the plan based on such observation. There is no definite way to force them to pay insurance fee as far as the present system continues.
This pension issue was also brought up at the general election in last fall. But the issue had been wiped out by such silly issue of privatization of the postal system led by then Priminister of Koizumi. Japanese people themselves are responsible for the result that brought up at this time. They should not make the same mistake and they will not at this time.
There is no doubt that present pension system must be reformed basically from any point of views. The only concrete and comprehensive counter measures to the current system is the scheme proposed by DPJ. People must learn more about their proposal in detail and vote for them in coming election.
The change of the pension system is only possible by the transfer of power in coming election and possible general election in near future. I do hope this will happen as soon as possible. Unless this would happen, there is no hope for improvement of our life, especially of young people in next two and three decades.
2007/7/14
Tadashi HAYASE
The election of House of Councils has started on Thursday. I am quite anxious to watch TVs and read newspapers on various issues. The biggest concerns of people concentrated on pension system which is ignited by incorrect recording problem at Social Insurance Agency. Prime Minister Abe repeated to say that all people who paid insurance fee will be guaranteed to get pension money. People seem to take it very funny. Why not? People take it for granted because the Government is fully
responsible for it at any rate.
People are now more concerned with the basic pension system itself rather than recording issues. Prime Minister Abe and ruling parties started criticizing new pension system proposed by Democratic Party of Japan. They said there exists no fund which is able to pay basic pension money to all low income people. Ruling fronts criticize that such pension plan is quite unrealistic.
Ozawa Ichirou, President of DPJ answered to such criticism saying they can create such fund by making fundamental change of administrative system of central and local governments. Such debate itself still involves a number of ambiguous points. But I
think it fine that such debate is being done in various way under this ircumstances. Most people of Japan now feel that the present pension system is not working any more. Young ages are afraid that they may not be able to get pension money when the time comes.
A number of young men do not participate in the plan based on such observation. There is no definite way to force them to pay insurance fee as far as the present system continues.
This pension issue was also brought up at the general election in last fall. But the issue had been wiped out by such silly issue of privatization of the postal system led by then Priminister of Koizumi. Japanese people themselves are responsible for the result that brought up at this time. They should not make the same mistake and they will not at this time.
There is no doubt that present pension system must be reformed basically from any point of views. The only concrete and comprehensive counter measures to the current system is the scheme proposed by DPJ. People must learn more about their proposal in detail and vote for them in coming election.
The change of the pension system is only possible by the transfer of power in coming election and possible general election in near future. I do hope this will happen as soon as possible. Unless this would happen, there is no hope for improvement of our life, especially of young people in next two and three decades.
2007/7/14
Tadashi HAYASE
Monday, July 9, 2007
Friday, July 6, 2007
Consumer tax becomes a main election issue
My opinion of this week(532)
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed at a TV news show that he has never denied any possibility of rising consumer tax in near future. Several top executive members of Liberal Democratic Party criticized Abe's comment that he should have never mentioned it for rising consumer tax is another critical minus issues in coming election for ruling front.
Whether they worry about the effect or not , it is very clear that Abe Cabinet and ruling front will rise consumer tax in near future when introduction of new pension plan is planned. Most Japanese people know that it is very possible for the Government to rise consumer tax sooner or later when time comes. People now worry about the pension recording system itself but they have another concern about how the current pension system will be revised . They know how those revision will be financed so that new system will really work as planned.
Most people know the fact it is possible that consumer tax will be raised by 3% or 5% to finance the new pension plan.
As a matter of fact, this issue was debated by two top leaders a week ago. Prime Minister Abe asked Ichirou Ozawa, President of Democratic Party of Japan how they can make money to fund new pension plan as they proposed before without rising consumer tax. Ozawa answered to Abe that the new Government when DPJ would be in power can create fund without rising consumer tax by cutting administrative cost
significantly. Abe criticized Ozawa that such plan is not practical at all.
Abe must have indicated to say that the introduction of new pension scheme is possible only by rising consumer tax as they have already indicated. So it does not make sense for LDP leaders to say they should avoid this argument about rise of consumer tax at this summer election.
I think it is fine for Prime Minister Abe to argue this point in this election in connection with pension issues. Main concerns at this moment is about recording of pension plan but this issue will be extend to basic revision of total plan at the next stage. And the issue will be discussed with the necessity of rise of consumer
tax sooner or later as to a necessary fund to support the plan.
DPJ proposed a new plan which involves no increase of consumer tax. Many people of Japan are not quite sure whether or not their plan are practical. But it is fine if the plan really works as DPJ proposed. People must look forward to hearing their plan more in detail in coming election campaign. The party should explain the
plan to people in more concrete way.
I just don't understand why LDP tries to avoid the argument in this election. It is not the matter in the long run but the issue is the one at near hand.
2007/7/7
Tadashi HAYASE
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed at a TV news show that he has never denied any possibility of rising consumer tax in near future. Several top executive members of Liberal Democratic Party criticized Abe's comment that he should have never mentioned it for rising consumer tax is another critical minus issues in coming election for ruling front.
Whether they worry about the effect or not , it is very clear that Abe Cabinet and ruling front will rise consumer tax in near future when introduction of new pension plan is planned. Most Japanese people know that it is very possible for the Government to rise consumer tax sooner or later when time comes. People now worry about the pension recording system itself but they have another concern about how the current pension system will be revised . They know how those revision will be financed so that new system will really work as planned.
Most people know the fact it is possible that consumer tax will be raised by 3% or 5% to finance the new pension plan.
As a matter of fact, this issue was debated by two top leaders a week ago. Prime Minister Abe asked Ichirou Ozawa, President of Democratic Party of Japan how they can make money to fund new pension plan as they proposed before without rising consumer tax. Ozawa answered to Abe that the new Government when DPJ would be in power can create fund without rising consumer tax by cutting administrative cost
significantly. Abe criticized Ozawa that such plan is not practical at all.
Abe must have indicated to say that the introduction of new pension scheme is possible only by rising consumer tax as they have already indicated. So it does not make sense for LDP leaders to say they should avoid this argument about rise of consumer tax at this summer election.
I think it is fine for Prime Minister Abe to argue this point in this election in connection with pension issues. Main concerns at this moment is about recording of pension plan but this issue will be extend to basic revision of total plan at the next stage. And the issue will be discussed with the necessity of rise of consumer
tax sooner or later as to a necessary fund to support the plan.
DPJ proposed a new plan which involves no increase of consumer tax. Many people of Japan are not quite sure whether or not their plan are practical. But it is fine if the plan really works as DPJ proposed. People must look forward to hearing their plan more in detail in coming election campaign. The party should explain the
plan to people in more concrete way.
I just don't understand why LDP tries to avoid the argument in this election. It is not the matter in the long run but the issue is the one at near hand.
2007/7/7
Tadashi HAYASE
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)