混迷の日本政治 「消費税」を政争の具にするな

付録＾＾：

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新聞社は各社とも北京に駐在員を置いているようですね。
そういえば昔、毎日新聞北京特派員の今田先生と知り合い、銀座のバーで飲ませてもらったことがあります＾＾。

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英文はスラチャイと同じ中学生レベルで大変読みやすいです。
内容がしっかりとしているので、それは十分にカバーされているのです。
新聞記事の命はそのコンテンツ（内容）ですからね。
↓
http://kiyoshimatforklog.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2012/01/beijing-tragedy.html

（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 6, 2012)
Don't let consumption tax become political football
混迷の日本政治　「消費税」を政争の具にするな（1月5日付・読売社説）

Japan finds itself facing various difficult problems that must be resolved immediately. There is not a second to lose.
　日本が直面しているのは一刻の猶予も許されない課題ばかりである。

These issues include reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, dealing with the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, increasing the consumption tax rate and reforming the social security system, participation in talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and rebuilding the country's diplomatic and security systems.
　震災復興や原子力発電所事故の対応、消費税率引き上げと社会保障制度改革、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加、外交・安全保障体制の立て直し……。

However, this country's politicians, who are supposed to play vital roles in resolving such issues, remain unable to implement necessary policies in the current divided Diet, under which the opposition bloc controls the House of Councillors.
　肝心の政治は、衆参ねじれ国会の下、必要な政策を実現できない。

Under these circumstances, the public increasingly feels the situation is stalemated.
国民の閉塞感は強まっている。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's tenure as president of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and Sadakazu Tanigaki's term as president of the Liberal Democratic Party will expire in September.
　今年は、９月に野田民主党代表と谷垣自民党総裁が任期切れを迎える。

Internal power struggles within the two major parties are certain to intensify as the leadership elections draw near, leaving domestic politics more vulnerable to the influence of short-term interests.
それに向けて２大政党で党内の権力抗争が強まり、政治は一層目先の利益に左右されよう。

Even so, the DPJ and the LDP must act with a broad viewpoint and strategy in mind.
　だが、そうであっても、民主、自民両党は、大局観と戦略を忘れずに行動すべきである。

===

Break with failed pledges
　◆破綻した公約と決別を◆

At his first press conference of the year Wednesday, Noda said integrated reform of the social security and tax systems cannot be put off any longer and stressed his intention to submit related bills to the Diet at the end of March.
　野田首相は４日の年頭記者会見で、社会保障と税の一体改革について、「これ以上先送りできない」と述べ、３月末に関連法案を国会に提出する意向を強調した。

It is apparent that the current social security system, which asks the working generation to share an ever-increasing burden, will become unable to support the elderly sooner or later.
　現役世代の負担に頼る現行制度では高齢者を支え切れなくなるのは明らかだ。

Unless the system is funded by revenue from the consumption tax, which imposes an equal burden on all generations, the possibility that Japan will sink into a fiscal crisis--like the current one in Europe--will become very real.
すべての世代が負担を分かち合う消費税で財源を賄わないと、欧州のような財政危機さえ現実味を帯びてくる。

Nonetheless, former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and some other DPJ members are openly opposed to the proposed consumption tax hike.
　それなのに、小沢一郎元代表や鳩山元首相ら民主党議員の一部は、消費税率の引き上げに公然と反旗を翻している。

Their actions reveal from time to time their logic of self-preservation, which centers on the fear they will not be able to win elections unless they propose populist policies.
　「世論受けしない政策を掲げると選挙で勝てない」という保身の論理が見え隠れする。

But it will be a betrayal of the public if they insist on adhering to the failed manifesto the DPJ put forward for the 2009 House of Representatives election.
破綻した政権公約（マニフェスト）の墨守をいまだに主張するのは、国民を欺く行為にほかならない。

In the discussion over the consumption tax hike within the DPJ at the end of last year, opponents strongly sought "reforms in which the government as well as Diet members share the pain," such as reducing the number of Diet seats and cutting the salaries of central government officials.
　昨年末、消費税を巡る民主党内の論議で、反対派は議員定数削減や国家公務員給与の削減など「自ら身を切る改革」を強く求めた。

The prime minister showed his willingness in this regard, saying he wants to realize such reforms as quickly as possible during the ordinary Diet session that will be convened later this month.
首相も、「通常国会のなるべく早い時期に実現させたい」と積極的な姿勢を示している。

Political and administrative reforms are of course necessary.
　無論、政治改革、行政改革は必要である。

But the agreement on these reforms must not be made a prerequisite to the submission of bills related to the consumption tax.
だが、これを消費税の関連法案提出の前提条件としてはなるまい。

In that case, opponents may try to use them as an excuse to put off the consumption tax hike.
反対派の狙う増税先送りの口実になりかねない。

The prime minister must do everything in his power to convince not only DPJ members but also the public about his policies.
　首相は、党内はもとより国民を渾身(こんしん)の力で説得すべきである。

He still lacks the ability to make his ideas well understood and coordinate opinion with other parties so his "unwavering resolve" can be put into practice.
　「不退転の覚悟」を実行に移すための発信力と調整力が、まだまだ足りない。

Noda expressed his intention to call on the opposition parties next week to hold talks on the integrated reform of the social security and tax systems.
　野田首相は、社会保障と税の一体改革について、来週、野党に協議を呼びかける考えを明らかにした。

But to do so, the prime minister must improve relationships with opposition parties.
それには、野党との関係を改善しなければならない。

===

Boycott must be avoided
　◆野党も責任を免れない◆

During the extraordinary Diet session last month the upper house passed censure motions against Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa and consumer affairs minister Kenji Yamaoka.
The LDP, New Komeito and some other opposition parties are set to boycott Diet deliberations attended by the two ministers.
　臨時国会で参院の問責決議が可決された一川防衛相、山岡消費者相について自民、公明両党などは両氏の出席する審議を拒否する構えだ。

This is essentially a strategy that should not be taken.
本来は、採ってはならない戦術である。

However, the opposition bloc's cooperation will be vital if the government and the DPJ are to pass budget-related bills--including a bill to enable the government to issue deficit-covering government bonds totaling 38 trillion yen--during the ordinary Diet session.
　だが、通常国会で、３８兆円もの赤字国債を発行するための特例公債法案など予算関連法案を成立させるには、野党の協力が欠かせない。

Noda must do more to break the impasse by taking necessary steps, such as replacing the two ministers in question in a Cabinet reshuffle.
野田首相は、内閣改造で閣僚を入れ替えるなど、事態の打開を図る必要がある。

Commenting on Noda's call for talks on the consumption tax between the ruling and opposition parties, Tanigaki said at a press conference Wednesday that the DPJ's manifesto does not presuppose a consumption tax rate hike and therefore "the DPJ-led administration is not qualified to propose this issue."
　自民党の谷垣総裁は４日、記者会見し、首相が消費税問題で協議を呼びかけたことに関連し、民主党のマニフェストは消費税率の引き上げを前提としておらず、「民主党政権にこの問題を発議する資格はない」と述べた。

Tanigaki then called again for the dissolution of the lower house for a general election at an early date.
　その上で、改めて早期の衆院解散・総選挙を求めている。

The LDP and Komeito should not turn the consumption tax issue into a political football.
　消費税を政争の具にすべきではない。

If a lower house election is held before tax-related bills are submitted to the Diet, the consumption tax hike would become a contested election issue and tax reform could get shunted on to the back burner.
法案提出前の衆院選となれば、増税の是非が争点となり、制度改革は先送りされかねない。

Tanigaki also referred to his party's pledge during the 2010 upper house election to raise the consumption tax rate to 10 percent and said he will advance this policy.
　谷垣氏は消費税率１０％への引き上げを２０１０年参院選で公約したことにも言及し、この方針は推し進めると語った。

The government and the DPJ--as the LDP insisted--changed their policy and leaned toward raising the consumption tax rate. However, the LDP is putting the cart before the horse if it hinders the government and the DPJ from realizing this tax increase.
　その自民党の主張通り、政府・民主党が税率引き上げに政策を転換したのに、実現を妨害するのは、本末転倒である。

===

Opposition also to blame
　◆「話し合い解散」目指せ◆

The LDP and Komeito, which held power for many years, also have a grave responsibility for Japan's lapsing into a critical fiscal situation.
　日本が危機的な財政状況に陥ったのは、長年政権を担当してきた自公両党の責任も大きい。

Reconstructing the nation's tattered public finances is an unavoidable task for whichever administration is in power.
　財政再建は、どの政権も避けて通れない。

Even if the LDP wins the next lower house election, the LDP and Komeito together do not hold a majority in the upper house.
They would have no choice but to ask the DPJ for cooperation.
自民党が仮に次期衆院選で勝っても、参院は自公両党でも過半数を得ておらず、民主党に協力を求めざるを得ないのだ。

The LDP and Komeito should join negotiations with the DPJ on integrated reform of the social security and tax systems.
　自公両党は、民主党と、社会保障と税の一体改革に関する協議のテーブルにつくべきだろう。

We urge the LDP and Komeito to help pass the consumption tax-related bills at an early date and effectively agree with the DPJ through dialogue to dissolve the lower house.
　与野党は、消費税の関連法案を早期に成立させて、事実上の「話し合い解散」に持ち込むことを模索してはどうか。

Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori said the ruling and opposition parties should first make progress on such issues as the consumption tax rate hike and electoral reform and then seek the people's mandate in the next lower house election, asking which party worked hard.
　森元首相も、消費税率引き上げや選挙制度改革などで与野党が成果を上げてから、次期衆院選で「どの党が頑張ったか」を国民に問えばいい、と語っている。

Do the LDP and Komeito intend to just sit by and watch when it comes to the TPP comprehensive trade and economic framework and the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture? 　自公両党は、ＴＰＰや米軍普天間飛行場移設の問題では傍観するのか。

Rather than simply taking potshots at Noda's administration, the two parties should encourage political debate by clearly spelling out their own policies, and deepen discussions on those issues.
政権を批判するだけでなく、自ら明確な方針を掲げて論戦を挑み、議論を深めてもらいたい。

We strongly believe this process would help build a powerful and stable political framework, including a rearrangement of the coalition.
　そうしたプロセスが、連立の組み替えなど、強力かつ安定した政治体制の構築を目指す動きにもつながるはずである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 5, 2012)
（2012年1月5日01時51分 読売新聞）