Comments on: Upper and Lower Houses Can’t Agree, so Fukuda Officially Becomes Prime Minister http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/ Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:50:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-353818 Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:51:58 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-353818 I agree, Matt, although I think we might see better message control than there was under Abe. We'll see gaffes of the cringe-inducing racist/sexist/ignorant variety rather than Ministers contradicting each other. I agree, Matt, although I think we might see better message control than there was under Abe. We’ll see gaffes of the cringe-inducing racist/sexist/ignorant variety rather than Ministers contradicting each other.

]]> by: Matt Dioguardi http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-353167 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:10:01 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-353167 "Yukio Hatoyama to call the Fukuda administration a return to the LDP’s bad old days. At this point, it’s hard to disagree." It looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Even if, and I think this is unlikely, they propose fairly substantial and good legislation, I think we will see at least four things: 1. Many gaffes 2. Money scandals 3. Slow, clumsy reponse to anything sudden that happens and requires swift action 4. Poor to inept use of media to promote their views “Yukio Hatoyama to call the Fukuda administration a return to the LDP’s bad old days. At this point, it’s hard to disagree.”

It looks like a disaster waiting to happen. Even if, and I think this is unlikely, they propose fairly substantial and good legislation, I think we will see at least four things:

1. Many gaffes
2. Money scandals
3. Slow, clumsy reponse to anything sudden that happens and requires swift action
4. Poor to inept use of media to promote their views

]]> by: DeOrio http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-352559 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:48:22 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-352559 Not a bad idea, but, in this case, it was an intra-parliamentary election. It is always going to be a power struggle amongst politicians. Every country with a bicameral legislature has some kind of balance between the houses. The Lower House is larger, more frequently up for election, and initiates legislation, so I don't find it too odd that PMs come from it or that the candidate who wins it gets the Prime Ministership by default in the event of a deadlock. At least no more odd than the Speaker of the House being third in line for the Presidency in the US or than any first-past-the-post voting system anywhere. It would be nice to do away with some of the politicking in politics, but the results could well leave us with a situation less democratic than that with which we started. All the "NOTA" option would do is drive the point home that no politician is going to be popular - kind of pointless, unless you're a pure anarchist. In an intra-party election, it would be absolutely pointless. It's not an open election, it's choosing the leader of a limited group. Who would be represented by none of the above? Not a bad idea, but, in this case, it was an intra-parliamentary election. It is always going to be a power struggle amongst politicians. Every country with a bicameral legislature has some kind of balance between the houses. The Lower House is larger, more frequently up for election, and initiates legislation, so I don’t find it too odd that PMs come from it or that the candidate who wins it gets the Prime Ministership by default in the event of a deadlock. At least no more odd than the Speaker of the House being third in line for the Presidency in the US or than any first-past-the-post voting system anywhere.

It would be nice to do away with some of the politicking in politics, but the results could well leave us with a situation less democratic than that with which we started. All the “NOTA” option would do is drive the point home that no politician is going to be popular - kind of pointless, unless you’re a pure anarchist. In an intra-party election, it would be absolutely pointless. It’s not an open election, it’s choosing the leader of a limited group. Who would be represented by none of the above?

]]> by: Cal Hobbs http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-352519 Tue, 25 Sep 2007 15:21:40 +0000 http://www.transpacificradio.com/2007/09/25/upper-and-lower-houses-cant-agree-so-fukuda-officially-becomes-prime-minister/#comment-352519 Interesting system -- if the two houses can't agree the candidate who wins the Lower House wins by default. I think in all elections voters should be allowed to vote NOTA (none of the above). If the NOTA vote exceeds a pre-determined percentage (maybe more than its pro-rate share based on the number of total choices for that office)- the election is declared a 'do-over' and any candidate who did not gain at least as high a vote count as NOTA is ineligible to run. Interesting system — if the two houses can’t agree the candidate who wins the Lower House wins by default.

I think in all elections voters should be allowed to vote NOTA (none of the above). If the NOTA vote exceeds a pre-determined percentage (maybe more than its pro-rate share based on the number of total choices for that office)- the election is declared a ‘do-over’ and any candidate who did not gain at least as high a vote count as NOTA is ineligible to run.

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