Aso says stock traders can be 'shady,' 'not trusted'

Sunday 22nd March, 05:32 AM JST

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Betting at 12:16 AM JST - 22nd March

Oops I forgot, Aso is just full of common sense, the "Best Lamist" world leader for 2009 (so far).
pathat at 02:29 AM JST - 22nd March

Among other things, PM Aso has "accused doctors of lacking common sense."

How right he was to say that about medical doctors. It's true way too often.

"Prime Minister Taro Aso said Saturday that stock traders can be considered ‘‘shady’’ in rural areas and stock industry people ‘‘are not trusted."

This is often true as well, and considered in the current climate of widespread distrust and outright anger directed at so many people who work in the stock market industry, Aso is just verbalizing what many Japanese already believe.

None of this should be construed as support for the Aso administration. He is a lousy prime minister, and the Japanese people should feel angry about the musical chair prime ministers of the last three years; ones that they've had no influence over in the decision-making process because it has been so long since the last Lower House election.

Barring an unforeseen economic and/or political disaster, Aso will try to wait until the deadline in September to hold the next election, and I doubt very seriously that the opposition parties in the Diet will be able to force his hand otherwise.

Aso's spring wishlist includes a Japan victory in the WBC that will give millions an ego boost, and, more importantly, that N. Korea will launch a missile over Japan that its missile defense system will be able to shoot down.

Nothing like a victory in sports over the U.S. in its national pastime that would lift the country's sagging spirits, and a military response to N. Korea that would boost Aso's rock-bottom approval ratings.

I'd say that the chances of the former happening are reasonable, while the latter is somewhere between slim and none, but we shall see.
funkyfresh at 04:20 AM JST - 22nd March

As a trader my self, who has lost his job, I wonder if Aso can be trustered either. I don't see any improvement that his made, so far its just all talk.. i guess what ever gets him through office.
funkyfresh at 04:21 AM JST - 22nd March

improvement in his office*..... i meant.
TokyoHustla at 04:22 AM JST - 22nd March

Once again, Aso shows he is a clown.
tclh at 05:19 AM JST - 22nd March

Stock traders are not trustworthy , doctors do not have enough common sense, elder people neglect their health... are all correct! It is the same as saying stock traders are doing wonderful jobs for the nation ,doctors are full of knowledges or elderly people are keen to keep their health in good conditions. Politics is often the play between 2 sides of the same coin, it all depends on what a politician wants at that time.
IvanCoughalot at 11:24 AM JST - 22nd March

Aso says stock traders can be shady and not trusted.

How unlike the open, transparent and fully-accountable world of Japanese politics.
bobbafett at 11:45 AM JST - 22nd March

There are bad apples in the stock industry but not as bad as the rotten, putrid fruit basket that is Japanese politics. They steal pension from those who are weak, steal from the dead and living with inheritance tax, take bribes from construction companies for public works projects that do not need to be done at the expense of the people, take bribes from companies that mislabel foods, take bribes from nuclear energy concerns that skimp on safety costs etc....so dirty and yet Aso feels he has some type of moral soapbox to grandstand off.
gyouza at 11:49 AM JST - 22nd March

Actually, I think he is targetting a very small number of people. I don't know too many stocktraders who are in rural areas. Most are close to the markets (i.e. Tokyo/Osaka)!

If he is voicing the opinion of people in rural areas then he is spot on - there is huge distrust (maybe deservedly so) of the financial world by "outsiders". Fuelled by stories of broke companies payment out bonuses (I deleted the word huge, as ANY bonus paid by a bankrupt company that is bailed out by taxpayers is just daft), the "ordinary" man on the village street is going to have a negative view.
presto345 at 01:10 PM JST - 22nd March

Go Aso, the public needs to be warned about how stock traders will take your money with promises to make you rich before you lose everything.
TokyoHustla at 01:24 PM JST - 22nd March

He's right. We in upper level management laugh at the traders at the bottom of the pyramid. We say jump and they say "how high?"
m0l0 at 02:04 PM JST - 22nd March

traders in general have never gotten social respect anywhere.

the only exception might be mutual fund managers but they aren't truly traders, and don't really get much more respect from the average person anyways.

Aso is probably referring to stock brokers rather than traders. I think they deserve much derision but I'm biased because I'm a trader, and not interested in risking anyone else's money but my own.
Statistician at 05:34 PM JST - 22nd March

stock traders can be considered ‘‘shady’’ in rural areas and stock industry people ‘‘are not trusted,’’

A bit like LDP politicians then.
Kawasaki at 10:32 PM JST - 22nd March

Politicians are the shadiest people around, and they know it. Dirty, corrupt and shady are words that don't do them justice. As an independent futures trader I can firmly say that Aso is an idiot... unless he was referring to brokers. I trade my own money.. don't touch other people's money.. don't have access to any 'inside' info.. I make my living, and go home.. nothing shady about being a trader.
bdiego at 03:29 AM JST - 23rd March

Aso is an imbecile, and embodies every criticism he's made. "Some people commit crimes, some people kick dogs, other people are evil." All true! And ironically, most appropriate to politicians. Which is what makes every comment Aso has ever made so phony. So let's just put down the crack pipes and take a whiff of reality here.

It's worth pointing out that he isn't even saying that some people are this or that, he's actually flat out said all people of a group are guilty. So go toke with him knowing that.