My opinion this week(203):

Secret expense budget

Secret expense budget set for Cabinet Secretary Office and Secretary
Office of Foreign Ministry are considered necessary to handle some of
those secret activities for domestic and international operation. I can
guess some of those cases by myself.

But a great portion of such secret expense budget have been used
just to pay for internal entertainment for VIPs and for some private
party expenses held by ambassadors and politicians at embassies and
some other places.  Many abuse of such secret expense budget were 
reported in Asahi Newspaper of Jan. 29.   

We were quite surprised to read such report, and we people of Japan 
wish that all internal facts about the expenses would be disclosed
and clarified as detailed as possible.

We understand some fundamental necessity for handling a certain political
and diplomatic issues in secret so that some of those cases would not be
exposed to public eyes. People would understand that if there is a proper
explanation about that.   

But none of such entertainment type expenses used for internal people would
not happen again in the future. We hope all of the facts about the abuse of
national budget which is tax of people of Japan would be disclosed so that
they will not be repeated in the future.

2001/2/4
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(204):

Computer virus

Computer viruses are now reaching plague proportions, particularly among
new users who are most vulnerable to a breed of virus that transmits 
through e-mail.As Internet use widens at home and in the office, the
beginner's ignorance of the danger of viruses makes for a fertile breeding
ground.

The virus now in question was the ubiquitous MTX, which spreads by attaching
itself to an e-mail, which, when sent, automatically sends another message 
that contains the virus. Our ML encountered to such virus in the past
one week or so. Several people who received mails from unkown person 
with file attached were infected by such mails when they open them. When they
send a mail to some others, this virus files are sent to others whoes mailing
list is in their e-mail software such as Outlook Express. 

According to figures compiled by the Information-technology Promotion Agency, 
an affiliate of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, a record 2,778 
viral infections were reported in December. The figures for January, IPA 
officials say, are not expected to be any better.

We expect to see many more such virus infection cases in these days when 
many more beginners  of PC and Internet users increase everyday. Many of
those net newcomers do not even understand the meaning of warning about
virus arraival when they receive them. That is what they have to learn
when they sart participating in network society. They also have to learn 
how to cope with the situation when their PC are infected by virus as people
will surely take some actions when they catch cold.

2000/2/10
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion this week(205)

Lack of leadership of Prime Minister Mori

The fishery training ship Ehimemaru was struck by an US submarine and suck to
the bottom of the ocean in five minutes at offshore Hawaii island. 9 crews 
and high students are still missing. It was such a terrible accident.
The biggest tragedy was the fact that nine precious life had been lost.

For Prime Minister Mori, the accident seemed to be a very serious issue 
in every respect not only about the life of nine people but also about
the effect on Japan US alliance relationship and on confidence of two 
countries. When Prime Minister Mori heard the news for the first time,
he was playing golf. He continued playing until he finished nine hall.
President Kanzaki of ruling Komei Party blamed him for not coming back to
his official residence much earlier.  Mr.Kamei of LDP said :"What's  matter
with it for coming late 5 or 10 minutes? "

What a stupid word it is! Several news reporters approached Prime Minister
Mori at the golf club and tried to get some comments from him on the
accident. Prime Minister Mori reproved them by saying the place is
private off-limit zone for any reporters. How splendid he is by saying
so!

That was not only five or ten minutes in what he was late, as Mr. Kamei
said. It was about two hours later when Prime Minister sent a certain
instruction to the general council of Hawaii. How slow the action was!
It takes time to collect information and any instructions cannot be
issued without any deliberation of the matter for sure. But there must
be many sort of emergent instructions which are only to be issued by
Prime Minister. The issue is here speed, seriousness, and accuracy for
decision making. The such emergent case is not only at this case.

Some slow actions by the Murayama Cabinet at the time of Hanshin 
Earthquake was a big issue after a few while. The scale and contents
of risk at this time differ greatly from that of Hanshin Earthquake.
But basic stance and attitude of the leader as how to cope with 
any of such risk for the country is same in nature. Rather than the
accuracy of instruction, the stance how to tackle with such emergent
case by the top leader of the country have been questioned at this 
time. 

We are very sorry to confirm that Mr. Mori seems to lack a kind
of leadership in this respect.

2001/2/17
Tadashi HAYASE
 

My opinion this week(206):

G-7 finance ministers urge Japan to combat deflation 

Japan's counterparts from the Group of Seven major economic powers urged
Japan to maintain monetary policies that would avert the negative impacts
of deflation, warning that the Japanese economy still contains "downside
risks" that could adversely affect the global economy. They shows the 
concern about the fact that price index has been declined for two years.
 
I understand the necessity for the economy to grow but I don't understand
why the decline of price index is so much problem by itself. It is good
thing for those who make their life by pension. While interest of saving
continues so low, the only way for those aged people to maintain their
life is low price index.

Prices of number of commodities in Japan are relatively higher than
those in US and European countries. Some basic structural reform
of Japanese retailing industries in now going on. It is necessary 
for Japanese economy to attain real growth. 

The most important thing about growth of Japanese economy is
that some real term growth can be attained without any inflation.
Deflation spiral is the term that those G7 leaders are talking about
Japanese economy. But I believe that real growth can be achieved
only through some of those basic reform in retail and other industries.

2001/2/24
Tadashi HAYASE