The Japanese government is normally in a state of flux. The Prime Minister changes so often that it is hard to keep up with who is now in charge... or rather which party is now in charge. The two major parties are constantly bickering, constantly trying to drag the other party off the pole and then there is more bickering and splitting into sanctions within the parties so that I can't keep it all straight. Whenever a Prime Minister changes (after a few months they give up or are crushed by scandals... scandals suddenly discovered by the opposing party) then the whole cabinet changes. Ministers get moved around. Last month's Welfare Minister is this month's Commerce Minister. What I'm saying is, that from my dumb foreigner position it seems like there is no professional in charge of anything. They haven't had time to learn the ropes let alone put their specialty (if they have one) into action.
So. Right now Japan is in a state of emergency. There are a couple of new ministers that I hadn't been aware of that are now playing center stage. The Prime Minister has spoken to the people asking for patience and trust and cooperation. Sort of the normal leadership speech. But the current Prime Minister is criticized for his poor leadership abilities (so were the last 4 prime ministers). Anyway, the reports from the government about the nuclear situation in Fukushima is that things are bad, the radiation levels are high, but outside of the 20 kilometer zone, that the rest of the population is not in danger.
Do the Japanese people trust their government? That is the question.
Okay, I know what I think. I've asked Tetsu his opinion. I've talked with a few housewives and English students. By far the most interesting opinion was Mr. Furui's (he's a physicist). But remember... all of us are the people who have chosen to stay in the immediate area... which means we trust the government. Those people who have left for other parts of Japan obviously do not trust the reports given by the Japanese government.
So all of us (including Mr. Furui) think that while the Japanese government is somewhat ineffectual, extremely slow to made decisions, and doesn't have a lot of power to get things in motion; we do NOT think that it is dishonest.
So, the answer is that yes, the people residing in Japan basically trust the government. We do not think dangers are being hidden from us. In this day and age, there are too many ways for the public to get live information from the Internet and that there are too many scientists and experts that are on the TV analyzing information and applying it, to make it possible for the wool to be pulled over our eyes. There is a government subsidised broadcasting station (NHK) that specializes in news but there are other private TV broadcasting stations that freely criticize the way things are being handled. We do not believe that our news is being filtered as we have heard it is done in China and North Korea.However, trusting the government and having confidence in it are two different things.
...In my humble opinion. (I've never been too interested in the way the Japanese government works.)
(Picture from the Internet.)
...In my humble opinion. (I've never been too interested in the way the Japanese government works.)
(Picture from the Internet.)
14 comments:
Sounds like democracy in action. With all its flaws, better than other types of government. What I hear now, they are taking help from US and France with the nuclear plant mess, which is good. We need everyone's ideas and tools. There was an excellent Nova program explaining the whole thing on Public TV this week. Keep positive!
I was wondering if the news was being censored there. I guess we have some of the same brand of nuclear reactors as the ones that are having problems there, my DH is a tad concerned. (He works on them)
Sounds like the good old USA to me!
Without knowing anything about those in the Japanese Government, I believe anyone in a position of authority would be working in the best interest of the people. I tend to think you are right to trust them.
I can't trust much of what is told on TV what is safe and what is not.
I live close to tokyo but trying not to drink water running out from our faucet.
Yumi
The government that had experts and plans lined up has been so busy covering their own backsides that they just let TEPCO do their own thing. Now that they have been allowed to mess up big time, it is the government (or rather the tax payers ) who will have to pay for fixing the problems.
Tanya, I think you have to trust and believe in what you and Tetsu feel is the truth. Your government seems to me to be acting quickly, as I saw emergency housing being built very soon after the quake. However I do not know of any internal politics that may be happening.Here near Christchurch in Kaiapoi, some homes that were condemned after the September 2010 quake are just now being demolished,those families have had to wait 6 months for any government dept. or local body to take action. Bags are being sewn and freight enquiries being made with several organisations. Take care, you and yours.Cheers Nancy J
I think your logic is solid! I'd be with you if I lived there too! :-) I came across this article which may put your mind at ease: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-01/hong-kong-radiation-exceeds-tokyo-even-after-japan-crisis.html (In short, it explains exposure rates are minimal and similar across the board in the world, regardless of recent events). I enjoy reading your blog everyday; thank you for sharing. My thoughts are with you for normality soon!
ih Tanya, got the quilt donation started here in Italy, many have answered, go see my blog.....it's all your fault!!!!!!!!
Reading this post i could have easily changed the name of the country from Japan to italy, things are as such here, scandals, bickering etc. but basically italians go on even if they heavily criticize their politicians. We must trust onnly the wise hand of God and pray for them as we are encouraged in His word.
Keep posting, we are all praying for you Japanese people.
Love , Roberta
Although I have been caught unaware when someone (person or entity) lied to me, I would rather continue to trust in the basic goodness of people. However, I do think that they could be wrong. I'm not sure that everyone who left the area were not trusting the reports. They might have just wanted to be safe, and leave while it was easier, in case something unexpected happened.
Honest, but inept. Yes, I think that about covers it for most first world governments. I read somewhere that the people who operate the nuclear plant are not necessarily the best people to figure out how to overcome challenges when it's broken. For that, the designers are needed, and I read that they are beginning to get involved, which is a good thing.
We are praying for the people of Japan and shall continue to do so.
Susan in Texas
Hi Tanya
You said the key phrase
There is a difference between trusting and having confidence in..
How true.
I was interested in what you think of the government there and how things work, as opposed to the way it works in the US. We have had recent events that have raised questions about the government too, as was evident in the BP spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the Hurricane that all but wiped out New Orleans.
Thanks for your take on this situation.
I want to thank you for writing about your experiences of daily life in your wonderful adopted country. I've loved reading about your family, faith, animals, quilting, jobs, Japanese culture and so on. And during these worrisome and sad times, I'm glad that you are still writing, quilting, loving, and carrying on. Just wanted you to know how many lives you touch with beauty.
Well I don't trust any government, lol - but I do trust God and I know you do too. I probably wouldn't have left either. Japan's gov't sounds just like the US.
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