Opinion

Private Policies

By David Zoppetti

Yes, adultery is morally wrong. No questions about it. Be it committed by man or woman, infidelity damages the very essence of what it means to be a couple: trust.But to what extent should such matters become the focus of public attention? Should the suffering of one family be the subject of wide show gossips? Should $40 million (¥5.28 billion), enough money to save a starving nation, be used to bring out the sordid details of an extra-marital affair, however improper and reckless it may be?

I am returning from Alaska as I write these lines and although politics in the "lower 48" seem somewhat distant to the people up there, this is pretty much what they are discussing.

Bill Clinton admitted having an "inappropriate relationship" with a 21-year-old intern in the White House. The speech that was supposed to be a contrite apology to the American public and his family turned out to be a disaster. That speech will probably hurt him more than the mistake that originated it.

Does this make him unfit to be the president of the United States? Should he resign because of this scandal? To be honest, I don't know. And a lot of Alaskans I spoke to shared my incertitude. One woman told me, "We elected a president not a pope. As long as he does his job, I don't care about his sex life."

Yet in a perfect world, the leader of a nation would be a role model, personifying moral values and setting standards of behavior. But foremost he should fulfill the job that he has been chosen to do: govern. He must work for the prosperity, well-being and peace of his people.

At this Bill Clinton has done a pretty good job. The economy and morale in the States are as high as they have ever been. And this has been accomplished without any ill-justified war (so far).

Although a big number of Americans feel that permissiveness is an important factor causing the problems their country does face, they place more emphasis on efficiency than on morality when it comes to the presidency — until the infamous "apology speech" at least. Now the wind might be changing.

Making comparisons between the American president and the Japanese prime minister is probably as pointless as it is irrelevant. But as I travel between both countries I can't help wondering Japan is going through an endless economic crisis and the entire world is feeling its effects. Yet the country has a prime minister who is one of the very people who got it in this mess in the first place. So which is worse? Both are bad. But who knows? Maybe Mr. Obuchi's having an affair or two would give the economy here the boost it so much needs.

It's a pretty tough world if our only options are an effective but cheating president and a faithful (then again, who knows?) but no-good prime minister. Isn't it?

Shukan ST: Sept. 18, 1998

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