Behind Japan's economic success lies a government and legal system that clearly prioritize social stability and group harmony over individual rights.
After a trip to Japan, tourists often return dazzled by the beauty of the land, the politeness of the people, the safety of the cities, the world-class transportation systems, and the delicious food. Many also come away with the impression that Japan enjoys a high degree of economic and personal freedom. Construction flourishes. Businesses thrive. Goods from all over the world are available, and shopping seems to be a national pastime. Homeless people are nowhere to be seen. People travel freely throughout the country.
But behind Japan's economic success lies a government and a legal system that clearly prioritize social stability and group harmony over individual rights.
The Japanese Constitution, drafted at the end of World War II, derives much of its wording from the U.S. Bill of Rights. It guarantees freedom of speech, press, religion, and assembly, along with trial by jury, property rights, universal suffrage by secret ballot, and freedom from illegal search and seizure. It also guarantees equality under the law, regardless of "race, creed, sex, social status, or family origin." Slavery and torture are banned, as are censorship and invasions of privacy. There is a strict separation of religion and government. A warrant is required to arrest someone, unless the person is caught in the act of committing a crime. And people don't have to testify against themselves.
The Constitution's support of individual rights is imperfect, however. For example, it defines marriage as being based only on the "mutual consent of both sexes." Eminent domain is legal. Though homeschooling is beginning to emerge, nine years of state-organized, tax-funded education are mandatory. And one curious clause, Article 27, says, "All people shall have the right and the obligation to work"—though enforcement of that obligation is unclear in practice.
...read more at reason.com
pull down to refresh
related posts
Isn’t the combination of income tax and work obligation the definition of slavery?
I’d call it modern slavery, just to make it clear it’s not the old school kind!
Are they allowed to expatriate without permission?
That would really be the final piece to make it a complete match.
I think the only country that won’t let you leave is North Korea.
and the whip!
Americans can leave freely, more or less, but need permission to stop paying income taxes to the US government.
Wait, what? You can actually request that and legally not pay? How do taxes on work income over there? Do employers take the tax out of your pay and send it to the government, or are you supposed to sort it out yourself?
I meant taxes on income earned abroad while living abroad. America is one of the only countries that claims that as taxable income and the only legal way out is to expatriate formally.
Generally, taxes are taken out of your income as you earn it but you can elect to opt out of that to some degree and keep track yourself.
I'd heard that before! It doesn't make sense, because you'd end up being taxed twice, in the US and in the country you're living in. Do you know what the reasoning behind that law is?
The definition of slavery is being subject to laws of property, instead of man. The obligations are a symptom.
What else is a legal obligation to work than a property claim over a person?
Japan is not paradize in full sense paradize in some facts only