After the Vote Is Over
By CHRISTINE O. CUNANAN-NOMURA
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投票を終えて
10月20日に行なわれた衆院選挙の投票率は史上最低だった。結果は自民党の圧勝。保守の優勢は変えられないとあきらめたり、政治に幻滅したりせずに、政治に民意を反映させよう、と筆者は言う。
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The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) came close to winning a majority in the Lower House election on October 20. I found
this de facto victory surprising in the face of the public's widespread dissatisfaction over such
LDP actions as defending bureaucratic
mismanagement, protecting companies involved in failed housing loan schemes, and summarily raising the consumption tax to 5 percent even without a
concrete and well-planned allocation scheme
for the additional revenue.
The LDP has always made clear where its main interests lie. It has
continuously protected big business and other traditional power blocs at the expense of ordinary salaried workers.
Now it's those workers who face heavier tax
burdens and the prospect of reduced government services and benefits in
the future.
It's hard for me to imagine citizens voting for anyone who does not put priority on the citizens' welfare
― particularly when the parties concerned
are largely responsible for Japan's worst post-war economic recession and a daunting array of problems for future
generations. But the results speak for themselves.
Many observers attribute the election turn-out more to voter
apathy than to the strength of the LDP as a party. A significant number of voters were apparently disillusioned with politics,
and they decided to stay away from the electoral process entirely. Other voters boycotted the
elections because they believed that their efforts would not change the
traditional power structure at all.
This is unfortunate because if there was ever a chance to radically improve
Japan's outdated political structure, it was
on October 20. The administration was
almost in fear of the power of public
sentiment over its past actions. But now, this recent LDP victory simply
lets old-style politicians continue business-as-usual.
The election results are a fait accompli so
there is little use in imagining what might have
been. What every Japanese citizen must now do, however, is make elected politicians accountable for their pre-election promises.
Practically
every successful candidate campaigned on vows
of a new government and a reformed political system that would put
priority on the needs of the people and stimulate the re-birth of a more ideal
society. Many candidates specifically
outlined reforms that they knew would be popular with the electorate, in order to win in their
districts.
Voters must now make their representatives keep their promises, or
politicians will think that promises made to voters can easily be broken.
A vigilant citizenry results
in a conscientious government.
Politicians and bureaucrats will make greater efforts to manage affairs wisely if they realize that the
public is watching them closely.
So if you think your representatives are not
living up to their campaign promises or are
diverging from the principles they were elected on, call or write to their
offices. Write a letter to the newspapers. Voice your opinions in public forums.
These may not be big steps, but they are a start in forming a more active
public and eventually a better government.
National policies are decided by politicians
and the bureaucracy, who are all being paid entirely out of your tax money.
You have a right to have your opinions heard and to make those government
officials accountable for good management on
behalf of society. In many ways, the future is in your hands, so make use
of it.
Shukan ST: Nov. 15, 1996
(C) All rights reserved
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