パワハラ疑惑や貢ぎ物などの受け取りで、百条委員会にまで出頭させられていたある県の知事が、昨日の出直し選挙で再び当選した。私は率直に驚いた。ほんの一月前までその知事は、個人的な振る舞いの悪さにより県政を停滞させたとしてマスコミからつるし上げられ、日本一の悪者のように扱われていたのに、渦中の県内で一体何が起きていたのだろう。
　一説によると、SNSを使った選挙戦略が功を奏し、県民票の獲得に繋がったとか。この一カ月ほどの間、この知事選に関してどんな風にSNSが活用されたのか、私には全く分からなかった。私は毎日SNSを見ているが、当選した知事の名前すら登場せず、ちょっとその騒ぎを忘れているくらいだった。代わりに誰が選ばれるんだろうくらいに、気にはしていたのだが。昨日、当選確実との一報を受けて自分の目を疑い、当選者の名前を確認し直したほどだった。そして次の瞬間、その県の県民たちは大丈夫かなと心配になった。

　私にとっては遠い県の出来事であるし、この批判された知事がどんな政治を展開していたのかも分からない。私が何か言及する資格はないのだろう。実際にこの知事が本当に法律に抵触するようなことをしたのかも実証されていない。県職員からの告発と証言はあるのだが、「考え方・感じ方の相違」の範囲である場合も考えられる。すべては濡れ衣である可能性もあり、「疑わしきは罰せず」という原則もある。
　選挙はもちろん法律に基づいて正しく実施されたことだろう。そしてこの方は再選した。もう誰も文句を言えない状態、つまりこの方は県民からの信任を得たのだ。この事実は動かすことはできない。

　マスコミの報道が常に正しいとは限らないだろう。ねつ造などということも時折耳にする。しかし大手のテレビや新聞が伝える内容は、裏を取って、よっぽど慎重に伝えているはずだ。頻繁に誤報しているようでは信用を失い、存続の危機にアッという間に瀕してしまう。もう一歩二歩踏み込んで真相に迫れない詰めの甘さを批判されることはあっても、最低限起こった事実については正確に伝えてくれていると信じている。
　この大手の報道記者たちも今回の知事選の結果については、まさに蓋を開けるまでは予想できなかったのではないか。少なくとも私は、再選が有力であるような記事を目にはしなかった。日本全国が注目した選挙で、表には現れてこない現象が結果となって表面化したということなのだろう。私が知らない世界で民意は動いた。

　先日のアメリカ大統領選挙においても、大接戦という大方の予想に反して、大差で決着がついた。ここでも私の知らない世界で民意が動いたのだと思う。何だか恐い気がする。もしも本当にSNSの使い方戦略で民意が動かされたのだとしたら、それは何を意味するのだろう。私は情報社会に取り残されて行くのだろうか。
　誰かに扇動されることなく、私は立候補者の話をよく聞いて一票を投じていきたい。時代遅れだと批判されても一向に構わない。直接話を聞くことは難しいが、メディアを通してでも自分の目と耳で話を聞いてみないことには始まらない。相対的なものの見方、考え方を携えて、揺るがない自分の意見を育てて行く。SNSなど、私は恐れない。

　これからあの県のことは、気になるかもね～

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Your vote counts

　The governor of a prefecture who was forced to appear before a special committee of the prefectural assembly over allegations of power harassment and the acceptance of bribes was re-elected in a by-election yesterday. I was frankly surprised. Until just a month ago, the governor had been hounded by the media for his poor personal conduct, which had stalled the prefectural government, and he was being treated like the worst villain in Japan, but what exactly had happened in the prefecture at the center of the controversy?
　According to one theory, his election strategy using social networking services was successful and led to him winning the popular vote. For the past month or so, I had no idea how social networking services were being used in relation to this gubernatorial election. I look at social networking services every day, but the name of the elected governor didn’t even appear, and I had almost forgotten about the commotion. I was more concerned about who would be elected instead. When I heard the news yesterday that he had been confirmed as the winner, I couldn’t believe my eyes and had to double-check the name of the winner. And the next moment, I started to worry about the people of that prefecture.

　For me, this is an event that happened in a distant prefecture, and I don’t know what kind of politics this criticized governor was developing. I probably don’t have the right to say anything. In fact, it hasn’t even been proven that this governor actually did anything that violated the law. There were accusations and testimony from prefectural officials, but it is also possible that this was just a case of “differences in thinking and feeling”. It is also possible that the whole thing was a false accusation, and there is also the principle of “innocent until proven guilty”.
　Of course, the election was carried out correctly in accordance with the law. And this person was re-elected. No one can complain about this now, which means that this person has the confidence of the prefectural citizens. This fact cannot be moved.

　The media’s reporting is not always correct. Sometimes we hear about things like fabrication. However, the content that is reported by major TV and newspapers is carefully checked and verified. If they frequently report false information, they will lose credibility and find themselves in danger of going out of business in no time at all. They may be criticized for not being able to get to the bottom of things and dig a little deeper, but I believe that they at least accurately report the facts that have occurred.
　I think that even these major news reporters couldn’t have predicted the result of the recent gubernatorial election until the lid was lifted. At least I didn’t see any articles suggesting that the incumbent would be re-elected. In an election that had the whole of Japan’s attention, it seems that a phenomenon that didn’t appear on the surface became apparent in the result. The will of the people moved in a world that I don’t know about.

　In the recent US presidential election, too, the result was decided by a large margin, contrary to the predictions of a close race. I think that the will of the people was also moved in a world I don’t know about here. I feel a little scared. If the will of the people was really moved by the strategy of how to use SNS, what does that mean? Am I going to be left behind in the information society?
　Without being influenced by anyone, I want to listen carefully to what the candidates have to say and cast my vote. I don’t mind being criticized for being old-fashioned. It’s difficult to hear them directly, but I have to start by listening to them with my own eyes and ears, even if it’s through the media. I will develop my own unwavering opinions, armed with a relative way of seeing things and thinking. I’m not afraid of SNS or anything like that.

　I might be interested in that prefecture from now on~