All bad things are interconnected, and any one of them is liable to be the cause of any other; more particularly fatigue is a very frequent cause of envy. ... One of the ways of diminishing envy, therefore, is to diminish fatigue. But by far the most important thing is to secure a life which is satisfying to instinct.
Source: The Conquest of Happiness, 1930, Chap.6:Envy, by Bertrand Russell.
More info.: https://russell-j.com/beginner/HA16-080.HTM
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In the upcoming House of Councillors election, the three main issues emphasized by many political parties appear to be "measures against rising prices," "rice policy," and "countermeasures for declining birthrates." Depending on the party, other key issues include "pension reform," "support for the employment ice-age generation," and "foreign labor policy."
One issue that should have been central -- but has now almost disappeared from the main stage -- is the problem of slush funds among lawmakers and corporate or organizational political donations.
However, we must not forget the issue of work-style reform. To prevent further tragedies such as karoshi (death from overwork) or suicide caused by excessive working hours, regulations on working hours are essential. At the very least, the implementation of a working time interval system -- which ensures adequate rest during working hours -- is indispensable.
Unfortunately, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and other conservative parties aligned with it have taken a passive stance on regulating continuous work hours. They appear to lean more toward the interests of employers and major business organizations like Keidanren and Nikkeiren.
In other words, parties such as the LDP and the Sanseito argue that "the motivation of those who want to work should not be discouraged," and they show little enthusiasm for reducing working hours or implementing the working time interval system. This attitude is evident in their election manifestos.
For instance, the LDP's 2025 House of Councillors election manifesto opens with the slogan: "A strong economy -- Achieve 1,000 trillion yen GDP. Increase national income by 50%." Within this vision, they state: "To build a society where workers can take on challenges with peace of mind, and where individual motivation and ability are maximized, we will promote a 'work-willingness reform.' We will also strive to address labor shortages."
The phrase "work-willingness reform" is quite symbolic.
Meanwhile, Sanseito's manifesto makes no mention of measures to prevent karoshi. Instead, it offers idealistic promises without addressing funding sources -- such as phasing out the consumption tax, reducing the burden of social insurance premiums, and capping the national burden rate at 35%, while ensuring that workers retain two-thirds of their salaries as net income.
At the same time, the party emphasizes exclusionary positions such as "maintaining male-line imperial succession," "opposing the introduction of a selective married surname system," and "opposing both the LGBT Understanding Promotion Act and same-sex marriage." These stances stand out as especially restrictive.
It is difficult to understand why a party like Sanseito, with such views, is rapidly gaining support. It seems that quite a few people are being swayed by uncertain or false information on social media and are making judgments without adequate reflection. What do you think?
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