Job Discussion Forums

[Eric]

I recently read that if the election was open to people from all countries of the world Kerry would most likely be the winner.

Who do you think the winner would be if the election was open to Japaneese peopel?

[melirae]

Kerry for sure! I have had loads of students ask me about it and Kerry is their choice. Also talking to my co-workers, a lot of them said they would vote for Kerry as well.

[canuck]

Question: Would the Japanese vote for my new Sony or Panasonic television?

Answer: None of their business. They don't have that right.

Question: Would the Japanese vote for Bush or Kerry?

Answer: See the answer to the first question.

[melirae]

As an American, it is interesting to hear the opinions of people from other countries on America and our political system and the way the world perceives our people....it's one of the reasons I moved to Japan.

So while it is no one's business who I voted for or who other people would hypothetically vote for if they had the right, it makes for an interesting discussion if they are willing to volunteer that info.

[AgentMulderUK]

Actually Japanese people in the know in Japan want Bush to win as Kerry has promised to attempt bilateral talks with N Korea which is exactly what Japan doesn't want. It will undermine years of diplomatic realtions and Japan IS scared of N.Korea, with good reason.

It's usually just the hippy peace types that seem to dislike Bush for no particular reason other than the pretence that the Japanese feel they should project the image that they 'dislike' war, as it's a horrible nasty business that only gaijin do now. Yeah, right.

Probably the same hippy peace types that complained the government should have done more to stop 9/11 ,etc.

There's no pleasing some people....

[Nismo]

I have only ever seen one political stand point displayed in Japan. A guy was wearing a T-Shirt with Bush's face on it and the shirt said, "Not my president."

Most people I met in Japan - Japanese, Europeans, Australians - would support Kerry.

And, in the sense of current events, it is somewhat their right. Bush is claiming that America is the World's Police (the movie isn't far off here). That kind of claimed authority would give them a right to decide who it is that is policing them. The argument here is that the rest of the world doesn't pay American taxes. So, in theory, if the rest of the world paid America taxes in order to earn the privelege to vote on who would police them, they could vote.

[canuck]

[Nismo]

Chill out, Canuck. I never claimed to be putting my opinion into the mouths of the Japanese populace. Most people I met while in Japan were anti-Bush, and thus supporters of Kerry. I never claimed that was Japanese sentiment, just amongst the friends I made.

I was giving a first hand account of one man's experience. You didn't add anything to this conversation. All you've done is just point out the obvious.

And in no way do I think America should be the policeman of the world, nor do I think that it is currently. I was saying what Bush is claiming.

[bshabu]

Why not ask the same Japanese(who are old enough to vote) who they voted for in in their prefecture, town, etc the last Japanese election. How many voted? Not many I would assume.

I don't know how could anyone care more about the US election and not their own.

[canuck]

Nismo,

First you said,

[Sweetsee]

I asked a confident at work, retired Japan Air Force brass, who he supported. Bush, of course.
Japan has to support Bush beccause they depend on the US to protect them from N. Korea. That and Bush and Koizumi are chums, according to Koizumi.
Just look at the electoral college map in the paper this morning. Heck, it looks like a landslide. The west coast and the NE are the only Kerry places, at first glance. Not at all surpising given the attitudes projected and perceptions of the average Americans these days.
While sight-seeing in Canada last month, I felt I was in the Med again after the US had bombed Tripoli in '86, not too popular being an American. Or living in SE Asia before the millinium and deciding to answer Canadian when asked my country of origin to avoid the stigma of being a Yank so far from home. Was too funny in the Med back then, backpackers making the trip to Morrocco wearing T-shirts saying: Don't shoot, I'm Canadian!

[Canasian]

Wow, canuck.... u need to chill out. Obviously with this topic you'll only get random opinions. In order us to find out how Japan would vote, we'd need to get them all to vote, which is clearly not going to happen. So I guess the best we can do is speculate based on generalizations or consensus. Not the most effective way to reach a conclusion on a topic, but I guess that's the best you'll get off a message board.

Overall, I think that most of the world is anti-bush right now. Obviously, there's Isreal and the other odd country, but on the whole I think the world (minus America) is anti-bush. Definitely a generalization, but that's the way I see it. If the world (minus America) voted on the presidential election, I would be very surprized if Bush became president. Yes, I know they don't have that right, but America is the superpower currently and that means they have alot of responsibility. Everyone around the world watched the election, knowing that it will effect things in one way or another for them. So, it's an interesting question how the world would vote, knowing that the choice may/will change their lives.

I'm not happy that Bush won, but I won't go on about that...........

[Canasian]

[Nismo]

[Nismo]