税金の無駄使い | オピニオン | 英語のニュース | The Japan Times ST オンライン

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CUNANAN-NOMURA <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#sinc">Since the bursting of Japan's "bubble economy"</A> several years ago, the government's <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#flag">flagrant</A> use of taxpayers' money for <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#extr">extravagant</A> projects <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#hasc">has come to light</A> and <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#arou">aroused citizens' anger.</A> Two of the most <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#noto">notorious</A> cases were the proposed Tokyo World <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#expo">Exposition</A> fair on <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#recl">reclaimed land</A> in Tokyo Bay and the construction of the huge <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#toky">Tokyo Metropolitan Government office complex</A> in Nishi-Shinjuku. Both plans <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#were">were initiated</A> <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#duri">during the term of</A> former Tokyo governor Shunichi Suzuki, whose <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#admi">administration</A> <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#wasa">was afterward heavily criticized</A> for these expensive and <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#glam">glamorous</A> projects <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#ofno">of no direct benefit to</A> most Tokyo residents. <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#atth">At the height of</A> the bubble economy, the government and <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#corp">corporations</A>― known <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#coll">collectively</A> as "<A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#japa">Japan Inc.</A>" ― believed the economy would continue growing <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#inde">indefinitely.</A> Thus, they built <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#magn">magnificent</A> concert halls, <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#publ">public venues</A> and other monuments that they thought were essential for Japan to become a <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#firs">First World country.</A> Today, many of these buildings stand as <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#evid">evidence</A> of <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#reck">reckless excesses.</A> How could Japan Inc. <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#init">initiate</A> so many <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#high">highly visible</A> but non-essential projects when the average Japanese person's actual lifestyle badly needs so much improvement? Foreigners are often surprised at the <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#star">stark contrast</A> between Japan's <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#elab">elaborate</A> public facilities and the <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#actu">actual living conditions</A> of ordinary Japanese. Japan may be one of the world's richest countries, yet Japan <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#hast">has come to be known as</A> a First World country with <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#thir">Third World living standards.</A> Recently the <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#misu">misuse</A> of taxpayers' money has once again become an <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#issu">issue</A> because of plans to <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#reno">renovate</A> and rebuild central government buildings in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki district <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#atan">at an estimated cost of</A> ¥100 billion. <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#crit">Critics</A> of the plans say the government should first decide whether a new capital will be built outside of Tokyo. There are plans to build a new capital at great cost <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#with">within the next decade.</A> In my opinion, the rebuilding of government offices, while the <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#capi">capital moving issue</A> still <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#rema">remains undecided,</A> is a risky and unnecessary expense. It would be unthinkable for the government to spend taxpayers' money so <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#care">carelessly</A> and then expect citizens to pay higher taxes to <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#cove">cover</A> the <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#shor">shortfall</A> <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#late">later on.</A> Although many people are against the government's <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#prof">profligate spending,</A> most also feel they cannot do anything to change it. However, individual taxpayers ―who <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#ares">are</A> all <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#ares">shouldering</A> a <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#port">portion</A> of the government's <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#bill">bills</A> ― can make their feelings known, <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#even">even if only in a small way.</A> <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#conc">Concerned</A> citizens can join the activities of <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#reli">reliable consumer groups</A>, which <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#aimt">aim to ensure</A> that public institutions spend taxpayers' money in the best possible way. Citizens may also write letters of <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#comp">complaint</A> to their <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#ward">ward tax offices</A> or to the newspapers. Even if citizens' efforts cannot <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#brin">bring immediate changes,</A> I think it's important to make public officials realize that many Japanese are becoming increasingly <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#vigi">vigilant</A> about how their <A HREF="op19961018chu.htm#hard">hard-earned</A> tax money is being spent. </h3><br /> <p> <A HREF="#sinc">Since the bursting of Japan's "bubble economy"</A> several years ago, the government's <A HREF="#flag">flagrant</A> use of taxpayers' money for <A HREF="#extr">extravagant</A> projects <A HREF="#hasc">has come to light</A> and <A HREF="#arou">aroused citizens' anger.</A> <P> Two of the most <A HREF="#noto">notorious</A> cases were the proposed Tokyo World <A HREF="#expo">Exposition</A> fair on <A HREF="#recl">reclaimed land</A> in Tokyo Bay and the construction of the huge <A HREF="#toky">Tokyo Metropolitan Government office complex</A> in Nishi-Shinjuku.<P> Both plans <A HREF="#were">were initiated</A> <A HREF="#duri">during the term of</A> former Tokyo governor Shunichi Suzuki, whose <A HREF="#admi">administration</A> <A HREF="#wasa">was afterward heavily criticized</A> for these expensive and <A HREF="#glam">glamorous</A> projects <A HREF="#ofno">of no direct benefit to</A> most Tokyo residents.<P> <A HREF="#atth">At the height of</A> the bubble economy, the government and <A HREF="#corp">corporations</A>― known <A HREF="#coll">collectively</A> as "<A HREF="#japa">Japan Inc.</A>" ― believed the economy would continue growing <A HREF="#inde">indefinitely.</A> Thus, they built <A HREF="#magn">magnificent</A> concert halls, <A HREF="#publ">public venues</A> and other monuments that they thought were essential for Japan to become a <A HREF="#firs">First World country.</A> Today, many of these buildings stand as <A HREF="#evid">evidence</A> of <A HREF="#reck">reckless excesses.</A><P> How could Japan Inc. <A HREF="#init">initiate</A> so many <A HREF="#high">highly visible</A> but non-essential projects when the average Japanese person's actual lifestyle badly needs so much improvement?<P> Foreigners are often surprised at the <A HREF="#star">stark contrast</A> between Japan's <A HREF="#elab">elaborate</A> public facilities and the <A HREF="#actu">actual living conditions</A> of ordinary Japanese. Japan may be one of the world's richest countries, yet Japan <A HREF="#hast">has come to be known as</A> a First World country with <A HREF="#thir">Third World living standards.</A><P> Recently the <A HREF="#misu">misuse</A> of taxpayers' money has once again become an <A HREF="#issu">issue</A> because of plans to <A HREF="#reno">renovate</A> and rebuild central government buildings in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki district <A HREF="#atan">at an estimated cost of</A> ¥100 billion. <A HREF="#crit">Critics</A> of the plans say the government should first decide whether a new capital will be built outside of Tokyo. There are plans to build a new capital at great cost <A HREF="#with">within the next decade.</A> <P> In my opinion, the rebuilding of government offices, while the <A HREF="#capi">capital moving issue</A> still <A HREF="#rema">remains undecided,</A> is a risky and unnecessary expense. It would be unthinkable for the government to spend taxpayers' money so <A HREF="#care">carelessly</A> and then expect citizens to pay higher taxes to <A HREF="#cove">cover</A> the <A HREF="#shor">shortfall</A> <A HREF="#late">later on.</A> <P> Although many people are against the government's <A HREF="#prof">profligate spending,</A> most also feel they cannot do anything to change it. However, individual taxpayers ―who <A HREF="#ares">are</A> all <A HREF="#ares">shouldering</A> a <A HREF="#port">portion</A> of the government's <A HREF="#bill">bills</A> ― can make their feelings known, <A HREF="#even">even if only in a small way.</A> <P> <A HREF="#conc">Concerned</A> citizens can join the activities of <A HREF="#reli">reliable consumer groups</A>, which <A HREF="#aimt">aim to ensure</A> that public institutions spend taxpayers' money in the best possible way. Citizens may also write letters of <A HREF="#comp">complaint</A> to their <A HREF="#ward">ward tax offices</A> or to the newspapers.<P> Even if citizens' efforts cannot <A HREF="#brin">bring immediate changes,</A> I think it's important to make public officials realize that many Japanese are becoming increasingly <A HREF="#vigi">vigilant</A> about how their <A HREF="#hard">hard-earned</A> tax money is being spent.<P> <P><FONT SIZE=3><B>Shukan ST: Oct. 18, 1996</B></FONT><br /> <FONT SIZE=1>(C) All rights reserved</p><br /> <br /> <p><htm> <HEAD> <TITLE>o10-18chu.htm</TITLE> <?php include_once("/var/www/html/function/sto/st-open_main_frame.php"); ?> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Shift_JIS"> </HEAD> <BODY TEXT="000000" LINK="FF0000" VLINK="FF0000"> <DL> <DT><A NAME="sinc"><B>Since the bursting of Japan's "bubble economy" </B></A><DD>日本の「バブル経済」がはじけて以来<P> <DT><A NAME="flag"><B>flagrant</B></A><DD>目に余る<P> <DT><A NAME="extr"><B>extravagant</B></A><DD>巨大な<P> <DT><A NAME="hasc"><B>has come to light</B></A><DD>明るみに出た<P> <DT><A NAME="arou"><B>（has）aroused citizens' anger</B></A><DD>市民の怒りをかき立てた<P> <DT><A NAME="noto"><B>notorious</B></A><DD>悪名高い<P> <DT><A NAME="expo"><B>Exposition</B></A><DD>博覧会<P> <DT><A NAME="recl"><B>reclaimed land</B></A><DD>埋め立て地<P> <DT><A NAME="toky"><B>Tokyo Metropolitan Government office complex</B></A><DD>東京都庁舎<P> <DT><A NAME="were"><B>were initiated</B></A><DD>始まった<P> <DT><A NAME="duri"><B>during the term of ～</B></A><DD>～の任期の間に<P> <DT><A NAME="admi"><B>administration</B></A><DD>行政<P> <DT><A NAME="wasa"><B>was afterward heavily criticized</B></A><DD>後でかなり非難を浴びた<P> <DT><A NAME="glam"><B>glamorous</B></A><DD>派手な<P> <DT><A NAME="ofno"><B>～ of no direct benefit to ～</B></A><DD> ～にとって直接的には何の得にもならない～<P> <DT><A NAME="atth"><B>At the height of ～</B></A><DD>～の絶頂期に<P> <DT><A NAME="corp"><B>corporations</B></A><DD>企業<P> <DT><A NAME="coll"><B>collectively</B></A><DD>ひとまとめにして<P> <DT><A NAME="japa"><B>Japan Inc.</B></A><DD>日本株式会社<P> <DT><A NAME="inde"><B>indefinitely</B></A><DD>限りなく<P> <DT><A NAME="magn"><B>magnificent</B></A><DD>素晴らしい<P> <DT><A NAME="publ"><B>public venues</B></A><DD>公共施設<P> <DT><A NAME="firs"><B>First World country</B></A><DD>第一世界の国（先進国）<P> <DT><A NAME="evid"><B>evidence</B></A><DD>証拠<P> <DT><A NAME="reck"><B>reckless excesses</B></A><DD>無謀な行き過ぎ<P> <DT><A NAME="init"><B>initiate</B></A><DD>始める<P> <DT><A NAME="high"><B>highly visibile</B></A><DD>よく目だつ<P> <DT><A NAME="star"><B>stark contrast</B></A><DD>あからさまな違い<P> <DT><A NAME="elab"><B>elaborate</B></A><DD>壮麗な<P> <DT><A NAME="actu"><B>actual living conditions</B></A><DD>実際の生活環境<P> <DT><A NAME="hast"><B>has come to be known as ～</B></A><DD>～として知られるようになった<P> <DT><A NAME="thir"><B>Third World living standards</B></A><DD>第三世界（開発途上諸国）並みの生活水準<P> <DT><A NAME="misu"><B>misuse</B></A><DD>乱用<P> <DT><A NAME="issu"><B>issue</B></A><DD>問題<P> <DT><A NAME="reno"><B>renovate</B></A><DD>修理する<P> <DT><A NAME="atan"><B>at an estimated cost of ～</B></A><DD>概算～の費用をかけて<P> <DT><A NAME="crit"><B>Critics</B></A><DD>批評家<P> <DT><A NAME="with"><B>within the next decade</B></A><DD>この先十年以内に<P> <DT><A NAME="capi"><B>capital moving issue</B></A><DD>遷都問題<P> <DT><A NAME="rema"><B>remains undecided</B></A><DD>未決定のままである<P> <DT><A NAME="care"><B>carelessly</B></A><DD>むやみに<P> <DT><A NAME="cove"><B>cover</B></A><DD>埋め合わせをする<P> <DT><A NAME="shor"><B>shortfall</B></A><DD>不足額<P> <DT><A NAME="late"><B>later on</B></A><DD>後で<P> <DT><A NAME="prof"><B>profligate spending</B></A><DD>荒い金使い<P> <DT><A NAME="ares"><B>（are）shouldering</B></A><DD>負担している<P> <DT><A NAME="port"><B>portion</B></A><DD>一部<P> <DT><A NAME="bill"><B>bills</B></A><DD>勘定書<P> <DT><A NAME="even"><B>even if only in a small way</B></A><DD>ささやかな形ででも<P> <DT><A NAME="conc"><B>Concerned</B></A><DD>関心のある<P> <DT><A NAME="reli"><B>reliable consumer groups</B></A><DD>信用のおける消費者団体<P> <DT><A NAME="aimt"><B>aim to ensure ～</B></A><DD>～を確かめるために<P> <DT><A NAME="comp"><B>complaint</B></A><DD>抗議<P> <DT><A NAME="ward"><B>ward tax offices</B></A><DD>区の税務署<P> <DT><A NAME="brin"><B>bring immediate changes</B></A><DD>直ちに変化をもたらす<P> <DT><A NAME="vigi"><B>vigilant</B></A><DD>警戒を怠らない<P> <DT><A NAME="hard"><B>hard-earned</B></A><DD>苦労して稼いだ<P><P><br /><P><br /><P><br /><P><br /><P><br /><P> </p> <br /> <hr size="1" noshade /> <ul> <li><a href="/st_contributors.htm">執筆者リスト</a></li> <li><a href="/st_contributors.htm">ＳＴについて</a></li> <li><a href="/st_faq.htm">よくある質問</a></li> <li><a href="/st_advertise.htm">広告掲載</a></li> <li><a href="/st_contactus.htm">お問い合わせ</a></li> <li><a href="/st_our_company.htm">会社概要</a></li> <li><a href="/st_privacypolicy.htm">プライバシーポリシー</a></li> <li><a href="/st_linkpolicy.htm">リンクポリシー</a></li> <li><a href="/st_copyright.htm">著作権</a></li> <li><a href="/st_sitemap.htm">サイトマップ</a></li> <br /> <li><a href="/"><i>トップページに戻る</i></a></li> </ul>