Idiocy in Nagano

[cstaylor]

Anyone following the story of Yasuo Tanaka? It really goes to show that the Japanese (at least those in the Nagano government) haven't learned anything about democracy:

Instead, the contenders said the former governor's "childish and self-centered" political manners triggered his confrontation with the assembly.

Wouldn't that apply more to the assembly that invalidated the choice of the people through a putsch? Tanaka could have dissolved the assembly, but decided to let the people decide the issue by running again. Seems pretty mature to me... let's hope the people of Nagano think so too.

Lawyer Keiko Hasegawa, 50, said Tanaka failed to carry out policies smoothly because he didn't make any effort to join hands with the assembly.

"The governor and the assembly must work together closely," Hasegawa said. "If they work separately, they cannot grapple with problems squarely."

That's not a democracy, that's a dictatorship. The reason for having an executive is to counter-balance the power of the assembly... just as the lawyer's job is to provide a counter-balance to the power of the State when enforcing the laws.

[befamfivh]

Speaking of the Japanese government, how is their govenrmental system described? (ie Democracy, Socialist, etc)

[Crispy]

Isn't it a constitutional monarchy? It has ministers and all that, right?

[cstaylor]

Isn't it a constitutional monarchy? It has ministers and all that, right?

From the Japanese constitution:

The Emperor shall be the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people, deriving his position from the will of the people with whom resides sovereign power.

So, if you mean "Constitutional Monarchy" in the way England is today, then yes, but if you mean like the Meiji constitution, no.

[befamfivh]

Alright, so that's a yes to 'constitutional monarchy'?... or maybe a no... You really confused me.

[cstaylor]

Alright, so that's a yes to 'constitutional monarchy'?... or maybe a no... You really confused me.

It's confusing... the constitution certainly spends some time laying out the (limited) responsibilities of the Emperor, but I think the idea was to cut short any nationalist ideas of revising the Meiji constitution through laws. As the constitution is written today, it would require an amendment to give the royal family the power they once had.

So, yes, since the Emperor is mentioned in the constitution with certain responsibilities, it could be considered a constitutional monarchy (unlike the U.S., which does not grant titles of nobility as per Article I, Setions 9 and 10):

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign State

[tokyojoe]

Speaking of the Japanese government, how is their govenrmental system described? (ie Democracy, Socialist, etc)

It`s kind of like England. A parliamentary system with a symbolic monarchy.

[Steve Bildermann]

Speaking of the Japanese government, how is their govenrmental system described? (ie Democracy, Socialist, etc)

It`s kind of like England. A parliamentary system with a symbolic monarchy.

Well, kinda of yes and kind of no. In England the Queen quite cleverly is at once, Chief of the armed forces, Head of the Church of England and Head of the Government.

This means that in order to effect any kind of radical change in which the Queen is removed you have to have the co-operation of *all* three forces. Not an easy task.

If say the Armed forces rose up and attempted a coup by removing the Queen they would also be removing the head of the Church and Government. This has never been done. Oliver Cromwell came close and was in fact offered the Crown of England but finally became ensnared in the conflict of loyalties between the church, the army and the government.

This is not to say the Royal family is immutable. I feel that in time they will become less and less an influence in England and might finally be dissolved. If this does indeed happen much of the fault will be their own.

[cstaylor]

Tanaka reelected Nagano gov.

Former Nagano Gov. Yasuo Tanaka, who lost his position in July after the prefectural assembly adopted a no-confidence motion against him, was reelected in Sunday's gubernatorial race, according to early vote counting

[canman]

I wonder how the good old boys of Nagano are going to conspire to get Tanaka this time. I guess they thought by voting against him in a non-confidence motion most of the public would desert him right away. Well boys it didn't work, and now he has been returned with stronger public support. I guess it will be up to some of the large construction companies to do something to try and discredit him. You go Tanaka, screw those selve serving corporate bastards.

[jingai]

It's pretty exciting that the public has sided with Tanaka in a virtual referendum on stopping dams. In one swoop, Tanaka has basically told the LDP, Tokyo, and the construction industry where they can go. That's pretty daring for Japan.

Since Tokyo and Koizumi don't seem to be doing much of anything, local populist movements are a real source of hope for Japan. It's happened before...
Change the LDP, Change Japan!
Roger

http://www.jingai.com

[cstaylor]

"All politics are local" -- Former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neil.

[Mulboyne]