(Tokyo, Japan)Blogs and Money for Japanese Politicians
(L'Internet et des hommes politiques au Japon)
Relatively young politicians in Japan today are trying to effectively use the Internet.
In older days when reconciliation among interested parties was covertly handled behind the scene, the general public could not see actual state of political life of individual politicians.
But, along with globalization of economy and reformation of the political system in Japan, relationships between stakeholders in the society and politicians have changed.
Making frequent TV appearances and gaining higher appraisal on the Internet seem to become more important for politicians, even though they cannot easily gain overwhelming popularity through their self-expression like in the case of former Prime Minister Mr. Jyunichiro Koizumi.
Anyway, a huge sum of the national budget is at their hands. It might be a kind of duty for voters to check what lawmakers write and present in their Home Pages and blogs.
For example, I can see how an agent from the US Embassy in Tokyo approaches a young and hopeful lawmaker of the Diet.
(http://www.taira-m.jp/cat1/post_66.html
)
Or, I can see how a popular and young Diet member rewards his 11 secretaries for their contribution to daily political activities.
( http://ichita.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2008-05-09-3
)
And, in a rare case, I can also observer how an ex-bureaucrat lawmaker is fighting against conventional or covert community in her electorate.
The problem she is now faced with looks like what her predecessors in the constituency must have solved before her election but conveniently left as it was, though it seems to involve a delicate moral issue.
( http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/katayamasathuki2007/8238420.html
)
These examples happen to represent three elements of politics: Information, Money, and Human Relationships.
But, basically, every politician would do anything, if not unlawful, to be elected and reelected over and over again. And, after being elected, Japanese lawmakers must live on any funds they can collect personally and "public subsidies to political parties" the source of which is the national budget of Japan.
As the latter is originally part of tax money Japanese people have paid to the Government, the general public must keep an eye on how each politician is working and contributing to the nation.
It is also important to watch their relationships with any dubious figures who, though ordinary civilians, are attracted by big money a politician can collect or handle.
For example, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has recently received four billion yen ($40 million) from the Government from its yearly allocation of 16 billion yen, according to Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications of Japan.
( http://www.soumu.go.jp/s-news/2008/080418_1.html )
From this pooled money, each lawmaker of LDP receives his or her share according to allotment of the fund to each prefecture where he or she belongs to.
( http://www.jcp-nara.jp/minpo/2006topics/20061112.html
)
And, in most cases, each Diet member seems to receive around 15 million yen ($150,000) per year, which they can use almost without restrictions so long as the money is spent for political activities.
This is a state and reality of the Japanese political community.
And, if the mainstream media is not so effective in reporting these details and facts, ordinary citizens like me have to put their efforts to access a Home Pages or a blog of a politician in question or in the spotlight for some reason.
Indeed, present democracy in Japan really needs the Internet well managed and supervised.
Truly, the U.S. is also proving its effect.
But, can Chinese politicians stand this trial of democracy?
Rev 5:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
Rev 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Rev 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Rev 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.