7 Comments

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  LIBERTAS at 03:25 PM JST - 9th September

  Can you say "Descended from Heaven" anyone?

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  taikan at 03:18 AM JST - 10th September

  This should come as no surprise. It also provides a benefit for all concerned. The ex-government employee, who probably has been forced to retire at a relatively young age (55 or less) as a result of the "up or out" policy applicable to fast-track bureaucrats, needs the job because of the negligible government retirement benefits. The entity gets someone who already has expertise in the relevant field, and who has contacts within the government.

  At least Japan doesn't have a "revolving door" such as exists in the US, where political level appointees go back and forth between government and the private sector.

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  realteacher at 09:08 AM JST - 11th September

  "At least Japan doesn't have a "revolving door" such as exists in the US, where political level appointees go back and forth between government and the private sector."

  As usual taikan, you fail to have any understanding of the US system. First, there usually isn't a revolving door. You either stay, because you do a good job (ex: Alan Greenspan, appointed by Reagan in the 80's, retired in the last couple years) or you get canned (ex: what was that idiots name in charge of FEMA during hurricane Katrina???? Oh yeah, Ron Brown. He's a dog breeder now in Colorado.) The vast majority of rank and file government employees stay on through different admins. And the upper management either stay or go. They don't revolve. Unlike Japan where a bunch of inept liars, incapable of taking responsibility, and answerable to nobody (read: kasumagaiseki/bureaucrats) reap rewards and benefits and do absolutely nothing to benefit the public. Then after they retire, they land a cushy job making even more money and kickbacks from their contacts in the government. Give me a break. The bureaucrats will be shaking in their boots when the public trial system starts next year. Let's hope the J-public stops handing out suspended sentences for convicted idiots. In America : you screw up = fired, fined, and or impisoned In Japan : you screw up = promotion I'll take America, every time.

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  taikan at 10:53 AM JST - 11th September

  Realteacher -- You should have considered the meaning of the name "taikan" before assuming that I lack understanding of the US system. Also, had you read my post carefully, you would have seen that I limited my comment concerning the "revolving door" to political appointees. By definition, that excludes the "vast majority of rank and file government employees."

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  realteacher at 12:17 PM JST - 11th September

  taikan-- I pondered your response (as did my wife), and without the kanji, your name means about as much to us as the name "Bob." So cut the BS and read my examples carefully: they were both appointees. Revolving door? How many actually come back after they are let go? Hmmmm..... not a whole bunch that I can recall. Do you care to name a few? I'll take a system where people have to take responsibility for their actions, positive or negative, to a system as screwed up as Japans that rewards apathy and incompetence.

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  Richard_III at 03:50 PM JST - 11th September

  What is really of interest is how many of these jobs are publicly advertised on a basis whereby ex bureaucrats compete against those from other sectors and the ratio of acceptance for these positions.

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  taikan at 03:05 AM JST - 13th September

  Realteacher -- I responded to your request for citing some examples by posting a link to a website that has hundreds of them, but for some reason the Moderator didn't think that was appropriate. Try looking up "revolving door" on Google.

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