A Word About the Protest Vote

In the recent election for Tokyo metropolitan legislators, a surprising number of communist candidates were elected. Analysts attributed this result to "protest votes". In other words, people who didn't like the major parties said to themselves something like, "I'd rather vote for a communist than for someone from xx party", and they did.

For those who are thinking of doing it again in the upcoming House of Councillors election, here is one word to contemplate: Aoshima.

In 1995, Tokyo was a metropolis teetering on the brink. Problems were legion, and leadership was lacking. A popular TV comedian--Mr. Aoshima--said something like, "If you don't want to vote for the other candidates, you can vote for me." And people did. In droves. To the surprise and shock of those who thought they were merely protesting, Mr. Aoshima won the election. He himself suffered the greatest shock, because he had no idea how to be governor of Tokyo.

Think carefully, protest voters.

You may be handing the national treasury, Japanese diplomacy, self defense, welfare, health care and human rights
--not to mention education and your children's future--to people who have no idea what to do with them. Why not think a bit, and choose a candidate who has an actual qualification for the job?