As our state budget finally goes to the General Assembly, Japan
provides an interesting example of what a leader with a real vision can
do. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has vowed since he took leadership
of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (in nearly continuous power for
the last 50 years) to “change the party, change Japan.” He lost a vote
on one of his landmark reforms–privatizing the postal system–and
dissolved parliament. He may even remove 37 recalcitrant lower-house
members. The result of the election could mean a reformed LDP or a new
ruling coalition led by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) without the
LDP.
The postal system has provided LDP members a strong
electoral base for years, but Koizumi has said he would rather “be
killed” than give up privatization. If only Easley would show such brio
against the machine politics of the General Assembly and its leadership.
