Originally Posted by
Asahi
There is no real debate on the pros and cons of bills even during committee sessions. Most of the time is devoted to opposition parties questioning ministers about the bills.
In short, Japan's democratic process is not functioning.
It is not merely in the parliament that democracy is dysfunctional in this country. That much is clear from the way leaflets are distributed by candidates during Japan's general elections.
In these leaflets, the candidates make all kinds of sweet-sounding but vague campaign promises without mentioning anything about the necessary costs or financing: "I will create lively farming villages, ensure a rich old age for people, realize education that helps children develop their own individuality and build up infrastructures necessary for the local community," and so on.
These catchphrases are all hollow and so eerily similar that it is hard to tell from them which party the candidate belongs to.
...
They say nothing about how, as mere individual candidates, they will be able to honor all their election pledges if they are elected.
Such shenanigans have long been part of the tradition of Japanese elections.
Moreover, the number of leaflets candidates are allowed to distribute within their districts, under the Public Offices Election Law, is far smaller than the number of households actually in the districts.
Candidates cannot distribute even the limited number of leaflets freely within their districts. They are allowed to give them only to people who come to their campaign offices or speeches.
In other words, candidates can only distribute their election leaflets to the people who are most likely to vote for them.
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