Say No to business circles domination of politics -- Akahata editorial, November 6 (excerpts)

The relationship with business circles can be an important criterion for choosing which political party to vote for.

As Akahata of November 4 reported, the Japan Business Federation (JBF or Nippon Keidanren) has announced it will resume political donations to political parties according to its ratings regarding their cooperation with the business circles' agenda.

According to the JBF report card, the Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan were rated high, while the Japanese Communist Party was marked the lowest as being "incompatible" with business circles interests.

The JBF openly expresses support for the LDP and the DPJ because of their call for corporate tax cuts and a consumption tax increase.

The JBF insists that donating funds to political party headquarters is not an act of buying policies. But it is a hard fact that the JBF asks political parties to accept policy priorities in return for donations. Isn't this buying politics?

The LDP and the DPJ, which are willing to accept money from corporations, can speak for the business circles in the Diet but cannot safeguard public interests.

At a time when business circles are publicly pushing for undemocratic policies, we need a party that is strong enough to stand firm against the business circles' attempt to control politics. The JCP is the only party that refuses to accept money from corporations. (end)