Aso, in Davos speech, pledges $17 bil for Asia to help counter economic crisis

Sunday 01st February, 07:35 AM JST

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Number11 at 11:58 AM JST - 1st February

I gave a speech in front of yokohama station today. I pledged to take their money and give it osaka to help the global economy. I clearly expressed my determination to bring peace to the planet and prosperity to everyone by using my superhero philosophy of "Just talking about a problem will solve it, nantoka..."

"Yes, we can!"

Thank you for your support, Number11
koizumi at 12:03 PM JST - 1st February

PM Aso : what exactly are you doing? Your own nation needs those funds in some desperate ways ... education, elder-care, medical infrastructure, physical infrastructure, employment meltdown, environment, economy, crime ... I could go on.

But Mr. Aso ... what are you doing?? You will be history in about 90 days. You're less popular than Mr. Bush Jr. and that's a very low level to sink to.

Nobody is listening to you, in Japan or elsewhere. Your predictable pledge of money - a nice one-day headline - is not any way to earn anyone's respect. Please bow out quietly and get some rest.
samuraisam at 01:04 PM JST - 1st February

It's like this guy believes doling out cash is the fix for every problem the world has.

I dont know if he's an idiot or just very generous.
apecNetworks at 01:48 PM JST - 1st February

‘‘This year is the year when we decide on concrete actions,’’ Aso said at a special session of the weekend meeting held in the Swiss resort town of Davos. ‘‘

That'll work, if he means pouring a crapload of concrete to construct floating island platforms which are "massive, absolutely MASSIVE". If every region built one platform, it would really affect the economy.

On this, I do agree with PM Aso. $17 Billion to stabilize the region can significantly change in a positive way if used now, not when there is trouble. Just like medicine, just a little is needed for preventative remedy, where serious remedies are needed if it becomes a flu. "Timing is everything."
telecasterplayer at 02:36 PM JST - 1st February

suppose he'll revoke it when he finds out those other asian countries can't vote for him?
norinrad21 at 05:32 PM JST - 1st February

what a mess
okapake at 07:09 PM JST - 1st February

Well, he's gone in a few months. He can promise all he wants. Ti try and boost his ratings, and put Japan into more debt. But what good is he doing for his own people?
Shatnoir at 08:08 PM JST - 1st February

Homeless Village build is fake. Japanese who has despeace by Japanes Opposition and Japanese madia make. Anyway, I agree with Japan Prime Minister's idea. Now Japan needs to builed new economics with China nad South korea for Idia and other contory in Asia. And then, there are a lot of foreign laborers who need more jobs, too.

I hope his idea meke a good for Japanese economics.
HeathenCabin at 09:23 PM JST - 1st February

Aso is going to give away 17 billion that he, nor the japanese government does not have. Apparently everyone forgot that the government does not have any wealth, nor money. All it can do is redirect these resources from Japan to some other areas that are within japan or outside of japan under the guise of "countering the economic crisis." The more the government tries to "counter the economic crisis" the worse things will get. As I said, and have always said, the government does not have any wealth or money, let alone resources. It can only redirect resources, or steal them outright to finance all these lies that it, the government, says that it can.

It is a hard pill to swallow, but it is the truth. All these financing/spending programs only allow for more taxation, debt, and if these two solutions there is another called inflation, on top of the fourth being default. Of course everyone mistakes taxation, debt, and inflation as spending things that the government actually has- which is nothing in reality. The government will take from those that work, or those that produce, though taxation and debt to give to those that the government deems necessary. Sure, it sounds good but when you really look at it, it is theft.

The money/capital/resources will be taken from those that produce these things, and given to those that do not in order to help them in "crisis." So if you are successful, you will be funding the unsuccessful, just so the unsuccessful can have jobs. You also get reduced purchasing power, and higher taxation. So you(the successful person, who did not become indebted) will pay for those who are idiots and cannot afford their mistakes. Sure it looks great until it is uncovered.

Now, all these jobs and production was created from artificial inflation from credit that had distorted credit, therefore distorting production/investments and anything else associated with it into increasing demand and employment- on top of tax increases. Simply put:

Bad credit lead to bad investments, through years of bad investments.

This has to correct in the markets, and Aso and all the japanese government have become disillusioned from reality into thinking that all the government influenced bad investments, the malinvestments, the artificial growth, the fake employment gains, are all real and that these idiots need to continue funding these failed/soon to fail policies. These people are robbing the few that produce what the market wants, to fund those that produce what the market does not want since the premise for those jobs/companies/investments were ALL WRONG, malinvestments.

Now, when you add the fact that government does not have any wealth, or money, or anything that it says it does and then states its going to give it to everyone else you should be skeptical. It, the government, is merely stealing your money/wealth(if you have a sound job/business)to give to some other job/business that would have never existed if the government did not subsidize it. This also leads to the market to divert the few resources it has to waste, therefore preventing recovery of the market/production to the efficient means which it does have...
onewrldoneppl at 09:42 PM JST - 1st February

some members of the LDP were queried during a broadcast of "Oota Sorii", Bakusho Mondai's politically-themed variety program, as to why the government doesn't give 100,000 yen - 200,000 yen to each adult taxpayer in japan. their response was something to the effect that the government could only afford 12,500 yen per taxpaying adult. where did the 17 billion US dollars so suddenly and mysteriously appear from? either those LDP lawmakers were lying or they are just incredibly stupid. more than likely, a little bit of both.
proxy at 10:04 PM JST - 1st February

I believe rumors of the death of America have been greatly exaggerated, but there is a real possibility of a complete American collapse. There is all sorts of gossip about the US having to declare a bank holiday. If the US goes down the crapper so will everyone else. The question is "where will things perk up again first." I don't think Japanese consumers can "save the world" , although judging by the huge, gigantic crowds shopping in Fukuoka today Japanese consumer demand has not been dented, but China is Japan's biggest trading partner and help for China means more demand for Japanese goods.
European1 at 11:29 PM JST - 1st February

Well, and they want my taxes??? first stupid idea...12,000yen bribe, next to show off and give away to other countries while own country is suffering. Where this money are from? 3 years later taxes are to be rised so we will pay for this anyway if I`m still here of course. Good Luck Aso san, soon you will be history and next family member will replace you and will be history in 3 months too. GoJ is a big joke. Democracy Party or something like this? Democracy? Where?
DeepAir65 at 11:35 PM JST - 1st February

so also said Japan’s position is to ‘‘resolutely fight all protectionism’’

coke alert!

Surely Japan is the best example of a protectionist (is that a word?) in the developed world? So are all those import tariffs going to disappear? Is it going to be illegal for Japanese companies to buy each others shares to prevent foreign take overs? On and on
jea711 at 07:19 AM JST - 2nd February

To Mr.Prime Minister and to ALL THOSE IN THE POSITION: STOP USING THE TAX PAYER'S MONEY to build up your own image. LOOK AROUND YOU and see those people who are suffering. Those amount of money that you're giving to the world can help solve problems of your own. Don't give us another burden by raising taxes, stop spending money that aren't yours!!! The problem with most of you who are in the postion is: YOU HAVEN'T LIVED A LIFE LIKE THOSE OF COMMON PEOPLE. You may have seen how we struggle each day but you don't know how difficult it is!!! Why don't you try sleeping on a tent or worse yet in box along the river bank without all those luxuries that you have in your room??? JAPAN HAS NO BETTER FUTURE WITH THE CURRENT LEADERSHIP. and... THERE'S NO QUALIFIED CANDIDATE TO TAKE THE HIGHEST POSITION!!!
Jeff198524 at 08:34 PM JST - 2nd February

At least the Japanese don't have a government as stupid as us Americans. Washington throws money down the drain constantly and in much larger sums.