Opinion of Shinzo Abe

[TDAS04]

FF for Abenomics and for standing up to Chinese dickishness. 

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Militarist scum.

[Never]

I'd prefer to see Japan remain pacifist, but in light of geopolitical events, I can see why Abe is changing his country's course. On the whole, he's an FF.

[H. Ross Peron]

While as someone of Korean descent I'm annoyed if not disgusted by his ultra-nationalist war crimes apologist rhetoric, his actual policies have been superb. FF.

[Illuminati Blood Drinker]

Denial of war crimes = HP

[Simfan34]

FF on balance. Empowering women.

[free my dawg]

Neutral.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Abe is a long-confirmed HP who has been put into a situation in which he's shown himself capable of getting some good, important things done. That doesn't make him an FF but it's still nice to see.

[RogueBeaver]

Abe is a long-confirmed HP who has been put into a situation in which he's shown himself capable of getting some good, important things done. That doesn't make him an FF but it's still nice to see.

[TNF]

Denial of war crimes = HP

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

FF enough

[Lief 🗽]

One of the best world leaders (though obviously his nationalist stuff is gross).

[Simfan34]

His disconcerting revisionism aside, there isn't terribly much Abe is doing that would merit condemnation. His economic policy has shown results, if more moderately than a year ago. The moves to change the lifetime employment model, that, while keeping unemployment low, has depressed wages and calcified industries, is much needed. His efforts to combat population decline- particularly by increasing the participation of women in the workforce- are the most substantial to come out of a Japanese government.

And yes, the move for a more robust military is long overdue; not only is the region threatened by a rising China, but it is neither reasonable nor logical for the US to continue subsidising Japan's defence to the extent that it does.

Nor is it particularly reasonable for Japan to let itself be dragged down by an overly restrictive constitution largely written by Americans. I'm not condoning all the revisions the LDP seeks to the constitution, but it is unreasonable for Japan to stick uncompromisingly to pacifism when Russia and China are becoming more belligerent. There are also a few other awkward parts that need changing. For one example, lessening the absolute barrier between religious groups and the government- a separation that, had our constitution contained it, we would now find intolerable- could lead to the de-enshrining of war criminals from the Yasukuni Shrine and the end of that controversy.

In all I would be more supportive of Abe if he was willing to tone down this revisionism, even if people exaggerate it- as far as I'm aware it really does him no good in terms of reputation or making anyone amenable to his policy aims. It takes up too much bandwidth in the media both domestically and abroad. It makes forming a coherent bloc of nations to counter China significantly more difficult. But otherwise he has dealt pretty well with the rather difficult hand he's been dealt- for one thing, I'm skeptical few other leaders would have managed the loss of 20% of the national power supply as well as he has. It's difficult to rate him poorly overall.

One of the best world leaders (though obviously his nationalist stuff is gross).

Your opinion concerning him has always surprised me. Could you go into detail?

[Lief 🗽]

One of the best world leaders (though obviously his nationalist stuff is gross).

Your opinion concerning him has always surprised me. Could you go into detail?

He's a shining beacon of light in a world darkened by obsession with austerity.

[dead0man]

FF on balance.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

His disconcerting revisionism aside

But that's enough to automatically make him a bit of a twat (at the very least). Nathan is correct, of course.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

FF.

[Simfan34]

His disconcerting revisionism aside

But that's enough to automatically make him a bit of a twat (at the very least). Nathan is correct, of course.

Sure, but that's never what these polls are really asking.

One of the best world leaders (though obviously his nationalist stuff is gross).

Your opinion concerning him has always surprised me. Could you go into detail?

He's a shining beacon of light in a world darkened by obsession with austerity.

Well, okay.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

I view him similarly to how I view Narendra Modi: a dislikeable person leading an even more dislikeable party - but having a largely pragmatic agenda consisting of fairly relevant actions.

Remilitarising Japan, I think, is fair enough - WWII was in the past, the country is surrounded by (fre)nemies and relying on the US being a hegemonic power will be increasingly unreliable in future. I also support his reopening of nuclear power plants despite its unpopularity and being a Green. I'm not a nuclear utopian by any means, but the idea of shuttering nuclear to replace it with (ugh) coal is ridiculous.

Much to deride in him of course - the clear accidental-on-purpose dick waving moves with China; the reintroduction of the death penalty; the raising of the consumption tax; support for whaling; being in the LDP; but in reality all the domestic choices he faces are hard, because he is working against a demographic timebomb, beyond the control of politicians.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

He's a pretty literal HP. Some good economic policies simply make him a HP with some good economic policies, not a FF.