Opinion Japan Needs a Stronger Taxpayer Mentality By CHRISTINE CUNANAN-NOMURA	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
税金に対する意識をもっと高めよう 昨年、政府は消費税や医療費の国民負担を増やし、国民がそれをあまり抵抗もせずに受け入れていたことは、外国人たちを驚かせた。汗水流して稼いだお金を政府がどのように使っているのかについて、日本人はもっと追求してもよいのではないか、と筆者は考える。

In 1997 many foreigners observed in great disbelief as Japanese politicians and bureaucrats required various new taxes and payments from the Japanese public without bothering to explain the uses for these in great detail. The two major additional burdens to the average Japanese worker were higher consumption taxes from April and increased medical payments from September.

In most other developed countries, the taxpaying public will not accept extra burdens until it is fully convinced of the necessity. The government must prove it has tried all other solutions before requiring more money from the public.

Requiring higher taxes is the easiest solution to the management problems of any country ― which is precisely why citizens must ensure that this option is not used so freely. It penalizes ordinary people for the government's budget and planning failures. Today, these costs are a great burden to many Japanese households affected by a long recession and an uncertain future ― yet most people seem very passive about and accepting of higher taxes.

"Why don't Japanese complain about their situation?" said one foreigner. "If I were Japanese, I would certainly demand that the government first cut its own operating costs and stop extravagances like foreign junkets, wining and dining and PR projects before I pay up more money."

One Japanese acquaintance gave three reasons : (1) Japanese basically assume that the politicians and bureaucrats know what's best; (2) Japanese don't like to talk openly about money; and (3) many Japanese don't feel like they are paying much in taxes because they do not directly manage their tax affairs. Both tax payments and tax adjustments are handled by companies for employees based on a set standard.

"The management of tax matters by companies is a very important factor because this means employees almost never have to think of taxes at all," said my friend. "That's why there is so little interest in the subject."

Many foreigners talk about money matters very openly. "Everyone needs money to live, so why should money be a bad word?" said one foreigner. "There's nothing wrong with wanting to make money honestly and being concerned about where it goes."

For many foreigners, it's natural to be conscious about how wisely (or foolishly) the government is spending their money since they have to actively manage their tax affairs. They realize that the amount is a big chunk of their hard-earned salary and could have paid for a badly needed new car, someone's hospital bills or a child's school fees.

When you experience a situation like this, you can't help but say to yourself : "This is my money. I need it but I must give it to the government. Well, I'm certainly going to make sure they don't waste it!"

Japan needs a stronger taxpayer mentality to encourage more efficient national budgeting and to protect itself from civil servants who raise the public burden too easily and spend public money too freely.

Shukan ST: Jan. 30, 1998

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