Aso apologizes for remarks about people with illnesses

Thursday 27th November, 11:00 AM JST

TOKYO —

Prime Minister Taro Aso on Thursday apologized for remarks in which he appeared to be criticizing people suffering from illnesses and the use of taxpayers’ money to cover their medical costs. ‘‘I’m sorry if the remarks offended people who are suffering illnesses,’’ Aso told reporters.

According to the minutes of a Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy meeting last Thursday, the prime minister said, ‘‘Why should I pay for the medical costs of people who become sick because they just keep on drinking and eating and doing nothing.’’ The minutes also showed that Aso, recalling a class reunion, said some of his classmates who used to be fit and healthy are now ‘‘worn out and go to see the doctor all the time’’ and that his medical costs are much lower than theirs. ‘‘It’s because I take a walk every morning and do other things. I pay more tax than them.’‘

Aso told reporters that he wanted to emphasize the importance of disease prevention as medical costs can be restrained by health management.

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Latest 15 of 81 Total Comments Show All

shanabelle at 10:38 PM JST - 27th November

What a tool! Next batter up...he won't last till the Spring. Ahotarou!
TPOJ at 10:48 PM JST - 27th November

Aso told reporters that he wanted to emphasize the importance of disease prevention as medical costs can be restrained by health management.

Yeah.

If that's what he wanted to say...but "accidentally" said ‘‘Why should I pay for the medical costs of people who become sick because they just keep on drinking and eating and doing nothing...’’ then he should be kept away from public office at all costs.

Look, apologizing is one thing, but if you were dumb enough to say THAT in the first place, maybe it would be best for all concerned if you just walked away from public office. The last thing any government needs is someone who has so little concept of basic communicative skills that they thought the first statement was anything but useless, childish bulls***.
mushroomcloud at 10:56 PM JST - 27th November

Judging by the fact that almost a 3rd of Japan is elderly, and these were the people he was targetting by his comments, I'd say Aso's tenure will last for 10 more months at best.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081127/aponreas/asjapangaffeproneleader;ylt=Am8unE_ltXi0AlhznPwFwlQBxg8F
elbudamexicano at 11:02 PM JST - 27th November

I noticed that Mr. Aso loves to smoke cigars, very, very unhealthy. If he gets LUNG CANCER, will we have to fork out his time in and out of the hospital with OUR TAXES?
Simon_Foston at 11:13 PM JST - 27th November

Wow. What's he going to say for an encore? Is there an even bigger segment of the population for him to offend?
ADK99 at 11:20 PM JST - 27th November

He might also want to consider that unhealthy people tend to die much quicker than healthy people, thus easing the massive strain on the pension system. The last thing we want is for people to be living even longer.
koizumi at 11:48 PM JST - 27th November

He's gone before the cherry blossoms fall in April ... bet anybody a million ￥　on this prediction.

The big question is : who in the Japan comes after him? Nobody's got a clue ... but, yeah, this clown's done.
romulus3 at 12:36 AM JST - 28th November

’ The minutes also showed that Aso, recalling a class reunion, said some of his classmates who used to be fit and healthy are now ‘‘worn out and go to see the doctor all the time’’

Aso will get all of his illnesses at once and they will be terminal. Then lets see who says what at that particular class reunion.
romulus3 at 12:39 AM JST - 28th November

‘‘Why should I pay for the medical costs of people who become sick because they just keep on drinking and eating and doing nothing...’’

what an arrogant man. so full of himself. he believes he is indestructible as a teenager believes. He is so immature and proud and boastful. Hey Aso, pride comes before a fall. You will know this soon.
zaichik at 05:50 AM JST - 28th November

Sensible would be offering ideas, creating policies to promote healthy living, rather than just saying 'why should I pay for sick people?'

Exactly. First step would be increasing taxes on booze & smokes - targets people according to their consumption and is accordingly a progressive tax. Another step would be making municipal sports facilities (gyms, pools, etc.) open a wide range of hours, so that going to the gym before or after work is more of an option for people, without having to stump up the sort of fees that private gyms charge (in fact, the gym I used to go to in Niigata didn't even open until 8:30, so going to the gym before work wasn't an option).

'Scuse me, gotta go and see to the porcine creature that appears to have flown into one of the upstairs windows.

Nicely put, Cleo!
galathilion_omotesando at 06:34 AM JST - 28th November

From the Kyodo News website (an article dated September 8, 2008):

"Many LDP heavyweights are smokers, including Secretary General Taro Aso, who is regarded as a strong contender to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda.

"Others include Makoto Koga, chairman of the Election Strategy Council, Tadamori Oshima, chairman of the Diet Affairs Committee, and Mikio Aoki, former head of LDP members in the House of Councillors.

"Smoking is allowed at the party headquarters and ash trays are set out on desks in each meeting room. Many members light up cigarettes after a meal is served at a gathering. It is not uncommon to see smoke filling the room."
jinjapan at 09:03 AM JST - 28th November

although these were bad comments by the p.m., there is some truth to the matter that the health care system is overused by the elderly & most everyone. Of course, people who are ill have to visit hospital. but, japanese even go to hospitals for the slightest problems like headaches & common colds. Also, i have spoken to many elderly people & nurses as well > they have said they visit the hospital more often in winter because their houses are cold & it's much warmer in hospital , & many have said they go because they are bored & lonely at home. These, obviously, are not the reasons you should be visiting hospital & are some of the reasons the system is truly overused.
majimeaussie at 10:16 AM JST - 28th November

nippon5, I have reread your link and believe that we have been talking about slightly different things. Your link seems to show co-contribution by the employer which would be company insurance - normally charges as a combined health and pension insurance (I don't use this system but believe that while organised through the company it is administered - and rates set - by the government). What I have talked about and going on the rate quoted by the original poster is the kokumin kenkou hoken, which is the system organised through the local councils to cover self employed, those working at small companies etc
memyselfI at 11:51 AM JST - 28th November

Hahahaha !!!! That's a funny comment. Aso, recalling a class reunion, said some of his classmates who used to be fit and healthy are now ‘‘worn out and go to see the doctor all the time’’ and that his medical costs are much lower than theirs. ‘‘It’s because I take a walk every morning and do other things. I pay more tax than them.’’

I am healthy too and I pay more Health Care than my Nippon counterpart ( co workers ). The system in place now is truly unfair.
airrunwesker at 06:38 AM JST - 30th November

Words have a way of coming back to us! Although, any public speaker has had the experience of saying something stupid, then the brain is like... "WTH did I just say!"