My opinion of this week(233):

Meeting of Administration and Labor Union

Prime Minister Koizumi met Etsuya Washio, head of the 8 million-member Japan
Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) on Monday. Washio requested Koizumi to
create 1.4 million jobs under the current high jobless rate of 5% and 
Koizumi expressed the importance of creating employment while proceeding 
his structuring reform. That sounds fine when as we read the news. But I 
feel that that kind of meeting itself is another showoff of Koizumi 
Administration to keep a high popular rate since the administration was
born.

It is obvious that 5% unemployment rate will get higher when  the structural
reforms were really conducted. All private industries are now taking 
various basic restructuring measures in order to survive. Such IT related 
industries such as Fujitu, Toshiba, Hitachi and Matushita are now conducting
restructuring in one way or the other. Some other older type industries must
take much stronger measures to survive. The restructuring is just starting.
The higher unemployment situation is easily expected under this situation.

It seems that the Government and the labor union such as Rengo are too easy
to say creating new jobs, safety nets, etc. I am not saying any of such 
measures are unnecessary. Yes, they are necessary, but not so easy as they
are talking about. All of those private industries are performing 
restructuring by taking various employment and welfare measures for their
employees. They just cannot rely on some of those measures to be taken
by the Government and measures proposed by Rengo.

Are those employment measures and safety net just for those sectors that
are to be suffered by the Koizumi reform? When they talk about it they just
talk the issue very generally and politically as symbolized by the meeting
of Koizumi and Washio. Both does not represent any of the real unemployment
situation of Japanese industries at the moment. The real employment situation
is much worse than they are talking about. 

2001/9/1
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion this week(235):

Special-status public corporations

All ministries controlling about 160 special-status public corporations are
against Prime Minister Koizumi's policy that those are to be abolished or
privatized as soon as possible. Except only five such corporations out 
of 160, all ministries answered to Ishihara, the Administrative Reform 
Promotion Secretariat that it is not possible for them to abolish or to
privatize those public corporation in one way or the other. All ministries
try to stick to status quo.

This is what has been expected from the beginning. The characteristic of 
bureaucrats is status quo. Those special-status public corporations 
are treasure houses of right for bureaucrats. Once they are abolished or
privatized, they lose the place to descend from heaven to get good jobs. 
They lose the privilege to get very high retirement allowance once , twice
or even more. It is natural that they all are against to make such reform.

There are many good causes why they are against the reform. Not all should
be denied. But Koizumi's policy does not insist that all such corporations
are abolished. Some, if they are necessary, will be privatized. Promoting
many more participation from private sectors, those inefficient operation
of those public corporation are expected to be improved. Prime Minster
Koizumi is quite right as far as his first assertion is concerned.

The Ministry,  which controls National Housing Loan Corporation , is
severely against the privatization plan of the Corporation. The 
corporation is very necessary existence for general public who utilize
housing loan. It certainly is. I personally utilized their loan fund
twice in the past. 

But at the same time, I was not satisfied with their service at all. All of
the procedures to borrow money from the Corporation were so complicated
and inefficient. Under this free money markets, there may appear better
housing loan firms with better interest and services. The National Housing
Loan Corporation is not the only alternative. 

Facing to such strong resistance from bureaucrats, Prime Minister reconfirmed
to pursue his first policy that all special-status public corporations are
to be abolished or to be privatized. We do hope that Koizumi sticks to his
promise without fail. He is obliged to run through a central road of
resistance. Most people of this country are now supporting this strong
stance.

2001/9/8
Tadashi HAYASE

    
My opinion of this week(236):

Revenge to terrorism

It is absolutely an unbelievbable sight. Usually I am in a bed at that
time of night. But I still waked up and switched TV channel around 10 PM
on Tuesday night and watched that scene. Jumbo jets flied into buildings
of International Trade Center. Those sceans were something like fiction 
picuture films or some virtual computer graphics. 

After a while, I remember the fact that I used to visit those buildings 
twice in the past. I don't remember which one it was, but on the top of
the building,I enjoyed a dinner party with about 20 business people who 
were distributers of the business I was concerned at that time.
 
I felt a great fear and anger watching two buildings were falling down
with big smoke. Next day, President Bush mentioned in TV US would make a
revenge to this terrorism for sure.  But I was not satisfied the way he 
talked. He was calm. I was rather for the way Prime Minister Blair of
England talked about the terrorism. He was more emotional in the way he
talked. Prime Minister Koizumi mentioned the support to Bush to make 
revenge to the terrorism  but I felt that he was too cool in a way. 

Yes, top leaders of politics should be cool and objective at any occasion.
But all of our citizens may foget some kind of straight anger to this kind
of evil acts which are never allowed in any sense. I myself was not so
angry when I saw the news at first. I should feel more straightfowrad 
anger and sadness at first sight. 

I got more angry when I knew the fact in TV news that victims by this
terrorism would reach several thousands. I wish criminals would be found
out and be punished as soon as possible. Some more revenge by terrorists
may come out again in future. But punishment is very necessary now at
first.

I don't know the real meaning of the word in Bible. "Eye for eye and
tooth for tooth." What is the lesson that god teaches us by this word?

Regardless of the lesson, I believe that the justice is to punish 
the terrorists involved with this evil act at this time.

2001/9/15
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(237):

Too slow in action

Prime Minister Koizumi expressed that Japan would provide the utmost support
to the US concerning their military action against terrorists. But how can
Japan provide help to US once the war starts is not quite clear yet. Japan
was isolated from international community in this respects at the Persian 
Gulf War ten years ago. "We will fulfill our responsibility as a U.S. 
ally," Koizumi said and the US expects more visible support at this time.

Koizumi instructed Foreign Minister Tanaka and Minister of Self Defense Force
Nakatani to consider how Japan could give logistic support to the US military
force by changing SDF laws. The legislation, if enacted, would enable Japanese
forces to provide so-called "rear area" support, such as logistics, medical 
and intelligence, for a multinational military operation.

Government leaders spent a busy weekend mulling how, under the war-renouncing
Constitution, Japan could support U.S. retaliation. Government officials are
now trying to find ways to avoid the sting of international criticism that
Japan felt during that war, which took place a decade ago. 

Despite providing $13 billion to the U.S.-led multinational military 
operation, world opinion frowned on Japan's failure to send troops to the
war. So they are trying to take more aggressive actions at this time. 
That's fine.

But I wonder why the Government officials and ruling parties are too slow
in action. Why could they not study this kind of basic matters and prepare
to take necessary actions much earlier. This is another example of lack 
of risk management mind of this country.

War is going to start. The Government should take necessary actions 
at the soonest possible time. The actions include not only the change
of various laws but also revision of constitution it is really necessary.
Constitution is not a sanctuary as some law makers both in ruling and
opposition parities insist. They should be revised soon to meet any
emergent case at this time in accordance with legal procedures. 

2001/9/22
Tadashi HAYASE

My opinion of this week(239):

US should make self-control

The US was recently in quarantine position as to COP3 Kyoto Pact, missile
defense systems and so forth in international diplomacy. The terrorism
happened at this time was serious one, of course, for the US. But in other
word, it has provided a good opportunity to reverse such diplomatic 
circumstance. The accident turned a misfortune into a blessing in a way.

Not only all free worlds but also main Arab countries are supporting
US on this issue discarding diplomatic relation with Taliban administration.
Russia and China are obliged to say no against terrorism and so is United
Nation. Everything is now good for US.

This happening will provide a kind of a big stimulus to recover economic 
recession in the long run, although there are some significant minus effect
in the short run. That will become a great help not only for Japanese 
economy but also for all world economy as well.

International worlds will ask the US not to make any excessive retaliation
against terrorists or relating country i.e. Afghanistan. I am optimistic
about it in terms of the fact that the US has gained now a very strong 
position in the diplomacy. The US will restrain themselves as far as
retaliation is concerned.

Afghanistan is now in a serious position of food shortage. It is reported 
that their food stocks are only for about another two weeks or so. The
Taliban Administration will collapse soon once food and other basic 
materials are blockaded even without any military attacks. The starvation of
people will become serious and major role of UN will become to help  
people from starvation rather than any military actions. Japan should
make contribution to such issue rather than any rear support of US 
military force.

The outcome of the game between US and Taliban is now over. The whole issue
will be resolved if Taliban delivers Osama Bin Laden  but this will not
happen. Nevertheless US should not start any large-scale military actions
any more because of that reason. It is obvious that all sort of economic
sanctions will be more effective as they already start.

President Bush emphasized in his speech that the terrorists were limited 
to some group of Islam group and all other Islam people had no relation
with any of such terrorism. That is right. President Bush conclude any of
his speech by saying "God bless US." When he says "God", this means Jesus
Christ. 

Does the god of Christianity admit the sprit such as "eye for eye, teeth
for teeth" ? No, it is on the contrary. Such evil terrorism will never
be allowed in any sense. But does the god admit any of retaliation by
killing many innocent people? I don't think so.

Now is the time to materialize justice in the terms of the word of god
rather than the word of human being. 

2001/9/29
Tadashi HAYASE