Over the past 15 months, both the American and Japanese peoples voted for massive,
structural change at the national level of their politics, economics, and foreign affairs. While Barack Obama has proven to be little more than a Wall Street fifth-columnist, the US version of
Vidkun Quisling, Prime Minster Hatoyama Yukio can increasingly be seen as the Japanese Mikhail Gorbachev -- a revolutionary force working within the confines of establishment power. Upon his election -- the first defeat of the gangster Liberal Democratic Party since the end of the Pacific War -- he announced his main goal as the restructuring of Japanese society along more "horizontal lines" -- a final break with the "vertical" Reaganoid lies which crushed Japan under the likes of Koizumi and his
zaibatsu-sucking criminals.
How can we put an end to unrestrained market fundamentalism and financial capitalism, that are void of morals or moderation, in order to protect the finances and livelihoods of our citizens? That is the issue we are now facing.
In these times, we must return to the idea of fraternity — as in the French slogan “liberté, égalité, fraternité” — as a force for moderating the danger inherent within freedom.
Fraternity as I mean it can be described as a principle that aims to adjust to the excesses of the current globalized brand of capitalism and accommodate the local economic practices that have been fostered through our traditions.
The recent economic crisis resulted from a way of thinking based on the idea that American-style free-market economics represents a universal and ideal economic order, and that all countries should modify the traditions and regulations governing their economies in line with global (or rather American) standards.
Globalism has progressed without any regard for non-economic values, or for environmental issues or problems of resource restriction. If we look back on the changes in Japanese society since the end of the Cold War, I believe it is no exaggeration to say that the global economy has damaged traditional economic activities and destroyed local communities.
In terms of market theory, people are simply personnel expenses. But in the real world people support the fabric of the local community and are the physical embodiment of its lifestyle, traditions and culture. An individual gains respect as a person by acquiring a job and a role within the local community and being able to maintain his family’s livelihood.
Under the principle of fraternity, we would not implement policies that leave areas relating to human lives and safety — such as agriculture, the environment and medicine — to the mercy of globalism.
Our responsibility as politicians is to refocus our attention on those non-economic values that have been thrown aside by the march of globalism. We must work on policies that regenerate the ties that bring people together, that take greater account of nature and the environment, that rebuild welfare and medical systems, that provide better education and child-rearing support, and that address wealth disparities.
Unlike Obama, who is all mouth, Hatoyama is actually
doing what he promised. And Uncle Sam doesn't like it one bit.
When the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) took office last year, they ended nearly a half century of unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party, and also broke the unwritten rule of Japanese politics: not to question America. [US bases (red) on Okinawa]
The DPJ instantly started a clash with the US over deals made by the previous government on US military bases. The US, unused to being questioned on its policy in Japan, has flat out refused to negotiate going forward.
But while it is unclear how much the DPJ can really do about the base deals, it is proving increasingly reluctant to accept the “kindness budget,” a euphemism for the annual outlay (currently at about $2 billion) of Japanese government funds to subsidize the US forces in Okinawa.
With US bases eating up a good chunk of Okinawa and the US demanding $6 billion in “relocation costs” from Japan to move 8,000 of those troops to Guam, the DPJ is increasingly seeing these expenses, particularly during the economic crisis, as something they can do without.
Okinawans are irked by the amount of land the bases take up, and the excessive opulence of the bases, which come complete with their own golf courses on the crowded island. The US State Department insists that the golf courses aren't any different from anywhere else in the world.
Keep your head down, Hatoyama-san.
Over the past 15 months, both the American and Japanese peoples voted for massive, structural change at the national level of their politics, economics, and foreign affairs. While Barack Obama has proven to be little more than a Wall Street fifth-columnist, the US version of Vidkun Quisling, Prime Minster Hatoyama Yukio can increasingly be seen as the Japanese Mikhail Gorbachev -- a revolutionary force working within the confines of establishment power. Upon his election -- the first defeat of the gangster Liberal Democratic Party since the end of the Pacific War -- he announced his main goal as the restructuring of Japanese society along more "horizontal lines" -- a final break with the "vertical" Reaganoid lies which crushed Japan under the likes of Koizumi and his zaibatsu-sucking criminals.
