Why does it look like democracy is on a declining trend all over the world, even as the Internet is more used by more people than ever?
Observer bias
Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
11–20 of 115 posts
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#12Why does it look like democracy is on a declining trend all over the world, even as the Internet is more used by more people than ever?
Exactly because the internet is used by more people than ever. On one side, the bad guys find it increasingly difficult to hide their misbehaviours, to which they react with crackdowns; on the other, the average person is now so swamped in information and things to do/watch/read, that his or her appetite for old-school organizing is vastly diminished (politics is slooooow, terribly boring, usually frustrating and occasionally humiliating).
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#13I feel saddened by this this. But at the same time I see Japan in a very complicated situation with China expanding its maritime influence in the region.
If it doesn't flex its military muscle (needing the secracy for it) it may find itself in a vulnerable situation against China. Although on the other hand it really doesn't stand a chance against China's nuclear arsenal.
If China used a nuclear warhead would the US riposte in the same manner?
What I don't get is the "Japan to battle in the middle east". Is this a "you scratch my back and I scratch yours"? Or just a cover for not saying "we're preparing for an eventual conflict with China"?
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's hardly an effective way of suppressing dissent or criticism against the President. The press corps is not the press.
On it's own it's not a big deal, but you don't control 320 million people doing just one thing. So, the surprising thing is not that it works, but that nobody thinks of it in terms of free speech. After all, of course news organizations will chase profits so access becomes a useful tool. PS: Press releases are not just a means of corporations using lazy reporters to spread there message.
I don't think it's entirely fair to characterize Americans as being "controlled" by the media or the government. If the president (Obama in particular) had that much power to influence popular opinion through propaganda, we would have an actual national healthcare plan right now.
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
On it's own it's not a big deal, but you don't control 320 million people doing just one thing. So, the surprising thing is not that it works, but that nobody thinks of it in terms of free speech. After all, of course news organizations will chase profits so access becomes a useful tool. PS: Press releases are not just a means of corporations using lazy reporters to spread there message.
I don't think it's entirely fair to characterize Americans as being "controlled" by the media or the government. If the president (Obama in particular) had that much power to influence popular opinion through propaganda, we would have an actual national healthcare plan right now.
The US government does not have a single viewpoint so it's message is not unified on a wide range of issues. But, things like the food pyramid have a huge impact on how people think.
Consider, did the Fed have anything to do with the recent housing bubble and burst? Well, bubbles become self sustaining up to a point, but was there anything that caused a huge amount of money to slosh into the housing market?
Now, let's take a step back. Are houses a good investment in the abstract?
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't blame the united states for everything. Totally unlike the situation described in the article, I can assure you that Americans have all the freedom in the world to criticize the government. We are fortunate in that regard.
Fortunate? Freedom of speech (et al.) is a birthright, NOT a privilege. If only the people of Japan stood up for their rights..
> If only the people of Japan stood up for their rights..
As mentioned in the article, there already are massive protests around this issue.
What more could they do? Try to take down the government by force? Even if they succeeded, I'm sure the U.S. would be happy to step in to "calm the waters" and impose martial law outright.
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#17I feel saddened by this this. But at the same time I see Japan in a very complicated situation with China expanding its maritime influence in the region. If it doesn't flex its military muscle (needing the secracy for it) it may find itself in a vulnerable situation against China. Although on the other hand it really doesn't stand a chance against China's nuclear arsenal. If China used a nuclear warhead would the US…
What makes it even harder to understand is that it was basically the US that forced Japan to demilitarize after WW2. Now we want to ask them to fight our wars?
The possible cover for not saying "we're preparing for an eventual conflict with China" is even more troubling. It was previously the case that the US would handle Japan's defense and the Self Defense Forces would, of course, provide self-defense. Are they planning for a conflict that is not defensive?
It is indeed a very complicated situation.
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#18I feel saddened by this this. But at the same time I see Japan in a very complicated situation with China expanding its maritime influence in the region. If it doesn't flex its military muscle (needing the secracy for it) it may find itself in a vulnerable situation against China. Although on the other hand it really doesn't stand a chance against China's nuclear arsenal. If China used a nuclear warhead would the US…
> Although on the other hand it really doesn't stand a chance against China's nuclear arsenal.
I beg to differ; According to the U.S government, Japan maintains a latent nuclear program. According to their assessment, Japan can go from "Hey, let's build a nuclear weapon stockpile" to actually having that stockpile in as little as a few months. (Source: http://zidbits.com/2012/02/which-country-is-closest-to-build...)
Germany comes in second place and could have nuclear weapons nearly as quick.
> Or just a cover for not saying "we're preparing for an eventual conflict with China"?
Right now, if North Korea launched a missile at California, Japan would have to watch as it sailed over Tokyo. They legally cannot shoot it down in protection of their ally. Japan wants to change that. They want to be able to protect and assist their allies in more than just a minor supporting role. Japan was there in Iraq and Afghanistan, they just weren't in combat roles. They were there providing medical aid and resupplies.
People (incorrectly) think that Japan is trying to become 1935 imperial Japan again. That's not it - they just want to be like everyone else. Right now, they have less freedom (militaristicaly) than everyone else. Significantly less than Germany too.
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#19I feel saddened by this this. But at the same time I see Japan in a very complicated situation with China expanding its maritime influence in the region. If it doesn't flex its military muscle (needing the secracy for it) it may find itself in a vulnerable situation against China. Although on the other hand it really doesn't stand a chance against China's nuclear arsenal. If China used a nuclear warhead would the US…
Given their mutual histories, I suspect both China and South Korea expect that Japan is preparing for conflict with them, so attempting to provide "cover" in that regard would only make Japan look duplicitous, regardless of Japan's actual intentions.
Re: Japanese government dismantles freedom of the press
#20I feel saddened by this this. But at the same time I see Japan in a very complicated situation with China expanding its maritime influence in the region. If it doesn't flex its military muscle (needing the secracy for it) it may find itself in a vulnerable situation against China. Although on the other hand it really doesn't stand a chance against China's nuclear arsenal. If China used a nuclear warhead would the US…
> Although on the other hand it really doesn't stand a chance against China's nuclear arsenal. I beg to differ; According to the U.S government, Japan maintains a latent nuclear program. According to their assessment, Japan can go from "Hey, let's build a nuclear weapon stockpile" to actually having that stockpile in as little as a few months. (Source: http://zidbits.com/2012/02/which-country-is-closest-to-build... )…
It doesn't look good that the leadership must constantly "reinterpret" Article 9 to do this, though. Though I don't necessarily disagree that Japan should be beefing up its defense right about now, the whole situation would smell better - and probably have a better result - if the government just rewrote Article 9 out of the Constitution entirely and allowed itself to provision armed forces on the same level as other nations without having to justify everything. (And, for God's sake, just leave the press alone already.)
Maybe the Overton Window just isn't there yet, though.