From: jcliu@euler.Berkeley.EDU (James C. Liu - Nucl. Engin. UC Berkeley)
Subject: U.S. vs. Japan Socio-Economics (was Re: Re: Actually)
Organization: University of California at Berkeley
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 23:33:27 GMT

In article <1992Oct15.084412.16602@newsroom.utas.edu.au>,
Hajime Yoji-san writes:

  >But if Japan has more minorities, we would be more tolorent to
  >minoritie since it become necessary to accomodate to such
  >minorites. When you make some hipothesis situation, you
  >can't use such assumption as 'other things remain unchanged'
  >cos any change affect other factors of society and such effect is
  >often unpredictable.

Like when is Japan going to allow open immigration?  We're debating
chicken vs. egg and which one comes first.  Japan does not favor open
immigration now, and I don't forsee minorities having a population explosion
in Japan.  And if it becomes necessary to "accomodate" more minorities
in Japan, (sore nara, saru ga, boku no shiri kara, tobidasu koto
ga dekiru yo!) based on the current attitudes of the Nihonjin, "accomodate"
would be an overstatement.

  >I never been to Yoyogi.  I am a country boy from Saga-ken of
  >Kyushu Island.  It  is a bad habit of foreigners to assume that
  >every Japanese come from Tokyo.

Gomen Nasai if you misunderstood.  I was trying to point out that there are
homeless middle easterners in Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, and I made the mistake
of assuming that you were aware of the things that go on in your country.:-)
Facetiousness aside, the homeless situation in Japan isn't something you'll
see often on NHK news or read in the Asahi daily (so please don't take this
personally).

  >If American system provides the most equal opportunity in the
  >world, I just can't figure out why there are such difference of
  >rich and poor in America.  If there is equal opportunity, I think
  >there sould be acceptable level of equal wealth distribution too. 
  >Can you explain me why there is so much poverty in US. 

Sure I can.  In a nutshell:  We got a lot of lazy bums.  Bottom line are
3 points:
   1) It's almost socially fashionable to be in poverty in the U.S.
   2) Our tax, health and welfare policies give no incentives to work
   3) The current generation of Americans who have grown up here have
      never truly known poverty and live hedonistic lives that are too
      financially leveraged for uncertain economic times. (I guess a
      growing number know poverty now!)

We have unequal distribution of wealth because the financially capable
make (or steal :-)) more while the inept get poorer.  Equal distribution
of wealth is a socialistic concept that doesn't work except in completely
homogeneous (i.e. one race) populations. 

  >You probably think that the reason people in slum are poor is because
  >they don't work hard. 

Yepp.  And I also think the majority are downright stupid.  These bums
spend too much on tabacco, drugs, alcohol, and firearms.  Plus, they can't
control their hormones and they don't know how to use birth control and
they end up having to take care of a baby at age 16.  And when they don't
have any money left, they scream to the news media that theirs is a plight
of poor socio-economic environment.  The shimbun and every bleeding heart is
all too ready to sympathize while ignoring the fact that these bums got
themselves into their own jam.  I've got a whole bunch of other gripes,
but I'll save those for the flames I'm sure to get. :-)

Jaa, James
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
James C. Liu - Okay!  I admit I'm a karaoke addict.  Tuesdays and Fridays
               Cafe Jun.  Berkeley.  On University just across from UC
               Theatre, next to Round Table Pizza. Japanese, Korean, English
               See ya' there!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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