Debt hating, but debt voting voters aren’t the only thing odd in Japan
Japan, mired in economic stagnation for over a decade, finally “threw the bums out”.
Japan’s ruling conservative party suffered a crushing defeat in elections Sunday as voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots in favor of a left-of-center opposition camp that has promised to rebuild the economy and breathe new life into the country after 54 years of virtual one-party rule, media projections said.
Apparently, they were fed up:
The vote was seen as a barometer of frustrations over Japan’s worst economic slump since World War II and a loss of confidence in the ruling Liberal Democrats’ ability to tackle tough problems such as the rising national debt and rapidly aging population.
But… and this is the odd part, the new guys promise more spending and debt!
The Democrats are proposing toll-free highways, free high schools, income support for farmers, monthly allowances for job seekers in training, a higher minimum wage and tax cuts. The estimated bill comes to 16.8 trillion yen ($179 billion) if fully implemented starting in fiscal year 2013.
It is common to assume that most people are smart. But just like the incorrect “there is no such thing as a dumb question”, that view is wrong. There are lots of dumb voters. And I don’t just mean “dumb” in that they vote different from me. I mean dumb as in they vote opposite of what they claim to want.
So, yes, I define a voter worried about debt and then voting in a new party that will spend more as “dumb”.
Let’s hope that when we throw our bums out we replace them with those who want to cut spending, regulation, and taxes. Not just promise a different set of constituencies more of other peoples productivity.