Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1787 that "The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. But I should mean that every man should receive those papers and be capable of reading them."
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Change in Japan
Please read this article and this analysis. What was the most important aspect of Japanese politics that you learned from these pieces? Why?
I think this was a huge event for the people of Japan. It seemed like for a while things were going down hill for them. People in japan were not at all happy with the way there government was being operated. I would like to see this country with better leaders cause i think that would work in our interest as well as theres. In conclusion i think this event needed to happen for the sake of Japans future. I also think the US could take a lesson from this. If we want change in this country bad enough we can have it. It has to begin with us and end with us. Just like it just happened in Japan!
It seems to me the moral was more that the people wanted the government to change, even if policy stayed largely the same (for now at least). Also, I quite like how the first article talked about ending Japan's decades-long isolationism as though it hadn't been isolationist for much of its history.
One thing that I got out of this article was that the Japanese people feel there is a need for change in the way their government is run by transferring power to the liberal party. -Patrick Milligan
Edit: the transfer of power was to the democratic party NOT the liberal democratic party. And to add I see a lot of parallells in japan's recent presidential election to our own. The winning parties both focused on a message of change and took the seat from a member of the opposing party. In the article the author states that the liberal democratic party in japan has become a bit stale, they have lost thier focus. Perhaps too much devision within the party to promote a clear platform. -Patrick Milligan again
There is a couple of issues I got out of the add.The first being Japan's want of change. Change is a great thing, but I think with the issues at hand, (deficit,old population, and following the lead of any superpower)it will be a long hard road ahead. Also so many times in alot of nations past there has always been empty promises. I would like to see how things actually occur once the power shift takes affect. In conclusion I see Japan just like our current position, and thats the drastic want for change. But I'm having trouble remaining optomistic I think they will need alot of patience proceeding in there path but I definitly think they are taking the correct steps, and for that I applaud the Japanese. Chris Pare
It seems to me the Japanese people elected the government they wanted. The democrats who are the ruling party got big mess in their hands. They have got problem that existed for decades like corruption. Cutting of all this problems is not going to take a day. But creating allies within the political leaders will be hard for the ruling party and the fact that both parties have different aspect of the art of governing. Finally, I think time will come when they cleaned out corruption in the whole country if it is a government ruled by the people. On the other hand they will have democratic allies from their neighboring countries and much more it will full fill the us interest: spreading the democrats.
The most important aspect of Japanese politics that I learned from this article was the lack of trust the people had in the past administration. Things within Japan were going so far downhill that the citizens of Japan had to take control and turn the government over to the other party. I think that people will not be happy with the new legislation though. I think this because they expect (good) change to come instantly, but rebuilding their country will take time. -Kurt Peterson
I've heard that the recent election in japan were remarkably similar to the Unitied states past election of 2008, in that the younger generation played an improtant role in changing the balance of power.The victors party had run on a plat form to offer more social service to working class voters. Daycare seemed to be a main concern for mothers heading back to work.
I think this was a big deal for the voters of Japan.Just by looking at the turn out of voters being the highest turn out in two decades, shows that the people of Japan are ready for a change. I think that it's a step in the wright direction for the people of Japan,but for the democrates to acheive all the promises they've made to the people. Like easing the social inequality by giving money and social benefits directly to the people instead of the industrys or other intrest groups is going to take a lot of patience and hard work. Over all I think that Japan is taking the correct steps towards change.Its just going to take some time and a lot of work to fix the mistakes of the previous party.
Considering that Japan already has a large amount of manufacturing plants including several thriving car companies, it is, I think a great idea to start to give more money to the households of Japan. This way of thinking look shockingly like what Obama’s economic plan, witch has done little more than hand out free money to the citizens. They may end up in the same predicament that we are in by spending money they don’t have.
I think that the most important aspect of Japanese politics that I learned from this article is that the electorate (similar to the United States’ electorate) has as their primary concerns stability and economic distribution. It seems that particular policy changes, election promises, and party platforms are less important than the perception that something must change. Ideally, it seems that this change can be effected by ousting an old guard in favor of a relatively untested and not wholly distinct party. What struck me most is that the high turnout is hand and glove with a new party promising that they will change the circumstances that the electorate find intolerable.
I found it very interesting and a little sad that the phrase "the people had the courage to take politics into their own hands" was used. It is hard for me to understand not living somewhere where courage is not required to effect change.
Based on the fact that the previous power had been in place for almost the past half century combined with the new governments promise of $270 per child, per month, I can't help but wonder if the majority of the voters where younger, maybe parents of those children. If that's the case, did they have the interests of the aging population in mind or just their own?
My hope is that we can continue the somewhat amicable relationship we have with Japan now and not let the more assertive, newly elected governement stand in the way.
Japan finally had a real choice between political parties and they have made their choice. The post-war liberal democrats were obviously not doing a very good job and the people felt that it was time to get a new government. I hope that the japenese economy picks up and their relations with the U.S. stay strong.
I feel that this reform of Japans government is a great example of what the U.S. needs to strive for. They've made the country more focused on the people and their needs. This is a good method because they'll be able to save money that can be used to stimulate the worlds economy. Also relocating or removing the U.S. military from that area I feel is a great move. The U.S. needs to stop focusing on the world and spend more time trying to fix our issues. The reform of Japan if all goes to plan will unify the public and government to create a strong stable governing power which will hopefully spread to other nations.
The recently held election in Japan was an empowering one for the voters. The next few months or perhaps even years will be that of restructuring their political system. These may be hard times for the Japanese, but perhaps with an enriched belief in their government from this election, the people will continue to work and strive for the political changes they seek. -Rich Lake
To me i believe the most important piece is from the (governance) article, about how many in the Democrats are would-be members of the LDP. The (landslide) article also mentions how some analysts are citing the turn around on the public's notion that they blame the LDP for Japan's current economic woes.
This could be set side by side with America in 2006 where some analysts claimed the Democrats took the Congress not because they had a popular message, but simply by the public's patience having run out with the ruling Republicans. The result will probably be the same, where it isn't the cut and dry two party system, but the "one-and-a-half party system", where the parties are working to the same goals (in Japan's case, fixing the debt and expanding Asian economic opportunities, and in America's, finding the best way for government to lead the charge to economic recovery). The devil is in the details, as they say, and Japan is more likely to become an explorative 12 year old than a rebellious teenager to America's lead. -Chris Judd
Japan has the world’s second biggest national economy after the United states and Japan economic record after world war || was remarkable since Japan economy have been growing and it seems that with the product they make and every country in the world is buying from Japan make products Japan will take over the economy in the world and Japan has the most of the typical structural features of a liberal democracy bar one a truly competitive party system
Talk about a time for change, we elect a president of a different race then ever and his message was based for change and japan completely converts from a liberal government to pure democracy. This is a great turn for japan and its people. As it stated this will steer the country away from socialism and such liberal ways and hopefully clean up the economy as it has been declining steadily for a generation. This gives them hope and new possibilities. but as any change, there is room for negative effects, it does seem to be a good opportunity for the country, but you have to look at it both ways. Japan has been liberal for decades and vast change like this could stir up some problems. but generally it seems like a positive change. especially how it will help out the US/Japan relations, now being so closely related in government.
it looks like the government just keeps changing, and many of the people either like it or don't. one thing that struck me by surprise was the health care, $250 of every child every month. In some ways that government is good, but is it taxed?
20 comments:
i thouhg thast if ft
Karl Trautman
I think this was a huge event for the people of Japan. It seemed like for a while things were going down hill for them. People in japan were not at all happy with the way there government was being operated. I would like to see this country with better leaders cause i think that would work in our interest as well as theres.
In conclusion i think this event needed to happen for the sake of Japans future. I also think the US could take a lesson from this. If we want change in this country bad enough we can have it. It has to begin with us and end with us. Just like it just happened in Japan!
Colby Roy
It seems to me the moral was more that the people wanted the government to change, even if policy stayed largely the same (for now at least). Also, I quite like how the first article talked about ending Japan's decades-long isolationism as though it hadn't been isolationist for much of its history.
-Michael Castonguay
One thing that I got out of this article was that the Japanese people feel there is a need for change in the way their government is run by transferring power to the liberal party.
-Patrick Milligan
Edit: the transfer of power was to the democratic party NOT the liberal democratic party. And to add I see a lot of parallells in japan's recent presidential election to our own. The winning parties both focused on a message of change and took the seat from a member of the opposing party. In the article the author states that the liberal democratic party in japan has become a bit stale, they have lost thier focus. Perhaps too much devision within the party to promote a clear platform.
-Patrick Milligan
again
There is a couple of issues I got out of the add.The first being Japan's want of change. Change is a great thing, but I think with the issues at hand, (deficit,old population, and following the lead of any superpower)it will be a long hard road ahead. Also so many times in alot of nations past there has always been empty promises. I would like to see how things actually occur once the power shift takes affect. In conclusion I see Japan just like our current position, and thats the drastic want for change. But I'm having trouble remaining optomistic I think they will need alot of patience proceeding in there path but I definitly think they are taking the correct steps, and for that I applaud the Japanese. Chris Pare
It seems to me the Japanese people elected the government they wanted. The democrats who are the ruling party got big mess in their hands. They have got problem that existed for decades like corruption. Cutting of all this problems is not going to take a day. But creating allies within the political leaders will be hard for the ruling party and the fact that both parties have different aspect of the art of governing.
Finally, I think time will come when they cleaned out corruption in the whole country if it is a government ruled by the people. On the other hand they will have democratic allies from their neighboring countries and much more it will full fill the us interest: spreading the democrats.
Abdifatah Osman
The most important aspect of Japanese politics that I learned from this article was the lack of trust the people had in the past administration. Things within Japan were going so far downhill that the citizens of Japan had to take control and turn the government over to the other party.
I think that people will not be happy with the new legislation though. I think this because they expect (good) change to come instantly, but rebuilding their country will take time.
-Kurt Peterson
I've heard that the recent election in japan were remarkably similar to the Unitied states past election of 2008, in that the younger generation played an improtant role in changing the balance of power.The victors party had run on a plat form to offer more social service to working class voters. Daycare seemed to be a main concern for mothers heading back to work.
-Karen Latlippe
I think this was a big deal for the voters of Japan.Just by looking at the turn out of voters being the highest turn out in two decades, shows that the people of Japan are ready for a change.
I think that it's a step in the wright direction for the people of Japan,but for the democrates to acheive all the promises they've made to the people. Like easing the social inequality by giving money and social benefits directly to the people instead of the industrys or other intrest groups is going to take a lot of patience and hard work.
Over all I think that Japan is taking the correct steps towards change.Its just going to take some time and a lot of work to fix the mistakes of the previous party.
Dustin Jacobs
Considering that Japan already has a large amount of manufacturing plants including several thriving car companies, it is, I think a great idea to start to give more money to the households of Japan. This way of thinking look shockingly like what Obama’s economic plan, witch has done little more than hand out free money to the citizens. They may end up in the same predicament that we are in by spending money they don’t have.
Lance Courtois
I think that the most important aspect of Japanese politics that I learned from this article is that the electorate (similar to the United States’ electorate) has as their primary concerns stability and economic distribution. It seems that particular policy changes, election promises, and party platforms are less important than the perception that something must change. Ideally, it seems that this change can be effected by ousting an old guard in favor of a relatively untested and not wholly distinct party. What struck me most is that the high turnout is hand and glove with a new party promising that they will change the circumstances that the electorate find intolerable.
Marianne Bratton-Davies
I found it very interesting and a little sad that the phrase "the people had the courage to take politics into their own hands" was used. It is hard for me to understand not living somewhere where courage is not required to effect change.
Based on the fact that the previous power had been in place for almost the past half century combined with the new governments promise of $270 per child, per month, I can't help but wonder if the majority of the voters where younger, maybe parents of those children. If that's the case, did they have the interests of the aging population in mind or just their own?
My hope is that we can continue the somewhat amicable relationship we have with Japan now and not let the more assertive, newly elected governement stand in the way.
Lisa Doucette
Japan finally had a real choice between political parties and they have made their choice. The post-war liberal democrats were obviously not doing a very good job and the people felt that it was time to get a new government. I hope that the japenese economy picks up and their relations with the U.S. stay strong.
Michael Pottle
I feel that this reform of Japans government is a great example of what the U.S. needs to strive for. They've made the country more focused on the people and their needs. This is a good method because they'll be able to save money that can be used to stimulate the worlds economy. Also relocating or removing the U.S. military from that area I feel is a great move. The U.S. needs to stop focusing on the world and spend more time trying to fix our issues. The reform of Japan if all goes to plan will unify the public and government to create a strong stable governing power which will hopefully spread to other nations.
Lucas Orlando
The recently held election in Japan was an empowering one for the voters. The next few months or perhaps even years will be that of restructuring their political system. These may be hard times for the Japanese, but perhaps with an enriched belief in their government from this election, the people will continue to work and strive for the political changes they seek.
-Rich Lake
To me i believe the most important piece is from the (governance) article, about how many in the Democrats are would-be members of the LDP. The (landslide) article also mentions how some analysts are citing the turn around on the public's notion that they blame the LDP for Japan's current economic woes.
This could be set side by side with America in 2006 where some analysts claimed the Democrats took the Congress not because they had a popular message, but simply by the public's patience having run out with the ruling Republicans. The result will probably be the same, where it isn't the cut and dry two party system, but the "one-and-a-half party system", where the parties are working to the same goals (in Japan's case, fixing the debt and expanding Asian economic opportunities, and in America's, finding the best way for government to lead the charge to economic recovery). The devil is in the details, as they say, and Japan is more likely to become an explorative 12 year old than a rebellious teenager to America's lead.
-Chris Judd
Anonymous said
Japan has the world’s second biggest national economy after the United states and Japan economic record after world war || was remarkable since Japan economy have been growing and it seems that with the product they make and every country in the world is buying from Japan make products Japan will take over the economy in the world and Japan has the most of the typical structural features of a liberal democracy bar one a truly competitive party system
Mubashir Hassan
Talk about a time for change, we elect a president of a different race then ever and his message was based for change and japan completely converts from a liberal government to pure democracy. This is a great turn for japan and its people. As it stated this will steer the country away from socialism and such liberal ways and hopefully clean up the economy as it has been declining steadily for a generation. This gives them hope and new possibilities. but as any change, there is room for negative effects, it does seem to be a good opportunity for the country, but you have to look at it both ways. Japan has been liberal for decades and vast change like this could stir up some problems. but generally it seems like a positive change. especially how it will help out the US/Japan relations, now being so closely related in government.
-Dustin Pelletier
it looks like the government just keeps changing, and many of the people either like it or don't. one thing that struck me by surprise was the health care, $250 of every child every month. In some ways that government is good, but is it taxed?
Jen begert
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