EDITORIAL: Hatoyama policy speech

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama spoke his mind and shunned convoluted language in his first policy speech Monday.

Rather than explain specific policies, Hatoyama apparently wanted to speak to the nation about his political philosophy and the sort of society envisioned by his administration.

One episode the prime minister recounted concerned a factory where 70 percent of its workers are physically or mentally disabled. Noting that the situation poses quite a challenge to the employer and employees alike, Hatoyama asserted, "People feel truly fortunate only when someone gives them due recognition and thanks them for what they do."

Hatoyama went on to explain that the essence of his philosophy of "fraternity politics" is that all citizens have a place and role in society, and that the opinions of minorities, the vulnerable and the underprivileged must be respected.

Some people may have found Hatoyama's address lacking in substance and sounding more like a "feel good" campaign speech filled with platitudes. But given the somber reality of our society, where people are now suffering increasingly from all sorts of unfairness and hardships while the social structure itself is fraying at the seams, Hatoyama's direct, urgent appeal for action to "overhaul society" was certainly refreshing.

In referring to disabled people, Hatoyama used the English expression "the challenged." And in his call for a multicultural society, he mentioned not only the indigenous Ainu people but also Brazilians who are newcomers to Japanese society.

Today's grim economic conditions and the progress of globalization could work to close people's minds. We applaud Hatoyama for understanding this tendency and voicing his resolve to create a more tolerant and open society.

The next thing we, the people, expect to hear from Hatoyama is how he intends to realize such a society.

He has given us the basic direction. His administration is set to: diminish the power of bureaucrats in policymaking and give elected representatives greater power; eliminate wasteful spending of taxpayer money; review budget allocations and spend more money on human resources and less on public works projects; and establish greater local autonomy.

Hatoyama apparently intends to flesh out his basic policies and explain them when the ordinary Diet session starts early next year. By that time, he should be in a position to discuss next fiscal year's budget, which will be compiled by late December.

His administration is only 40 days old, and we can understand his wish to hold off the nuts-and-bolts talk until he is better prepared.

His Democratic Party of Japan won Sunday's Upper House by-elections in Shizuoka and Kanagawa. The twin victories must have bolstered Hatoyama's confidence in his young administration.

However, the administration faces some difficult issues. Hatoyama must reach a decision on the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture. There is also the tricky plan to bail out financially troubled Japan Airlines Corp. These are just two examples of the numerous, urgent political challenges confronting the Hatoyama administration.

The prime minister must know that a single misstep could turn the public against him.

The people are also awaiting the prime minister's straightforward comments on postal reform and the matter of falsified political fund reports of his fund management organization.

Hatoyama will lose the verbal battle beginning Wednesday in the Diet if he is armed only with his personal philosophy and lofty aspirations.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 27(IHT/Asahi: October 28,2009)