JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
-
- English Instructor (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe)
- Berlitz Japan, Inc. (ベルリッツ・ジャパン株式会社), Kansai
- Salary: ¥125,000 ~ ¥250,000 / Month
-
- FT English Teachers for Kids - Osaka
- Kohgakusha Co., Ltd. （株式会社興学社）, Osaka
- Salary: ¥255,000 ~ ¥275,000 / Month Travel Expenses, Encouragement of Japanese learning*
-
- Translator
- ZAIHON, Inc. (日本財務翻訳株式会社), Tokyo
- Salary: ¥6.0M / Year Negotiable
0
Wolfpack
HeyLars says:
I define success as acheiving political and military goals. The surge in Iraq clearly achieved that. There is a stable democracy there now despite the efforts of Al Qaeda and Iran to undermine the country. The only positive thing that President Obama has done since becoming president has been the surge. The remainder of his foreign and domestic policy has been a disaster.
Whether or not the wars are worth American lives was already considered when the US Congress voted for war against Iraq and Afghanistan on a bipartisan basis. Another reason why voting for war is such a serious matter is because once voting for it, you can't take it back. I can still remember Hillary Clinton arguing on the Senate floor that she supported the war against Iraq not based upon information from the Bush administration, but on what she knew about Iraq based on information she received while her husband was president and from Democrat party advisors.
Posted in: U.S. troop deaths double in Afghanistan
0
Wolfpack
This must be a first for Japan, winning both the womens and mens titles. I am not a particular fan of Mao Asada mostly due to her usually dour personality. However, the picture here is pretty good - she is smiling and the flag behind her looks great. Congrats to her!
Posted in: Asada takes world title; Kim gets silver at World Figure Skating Championships
0
Wolfpack
It's a stupid idea no matter who came up with it. No one is truely free when their government is micro-managing their lives. I can't understand why so many people are enticed by the allure of the nanny-state and are readily willing to give up on making choices about their own lives to the government. Why does the government have to force me to do anything - as long as I do no harm to anyone else? There should at least be an opt out of ObamaCare for those who do not want to be told how to take care of themselves. I thought the Left is pro-choice!
Posted in: U.S. Congress clears historic health care bill
0
Wolfpack
A really stunning picture of a race car in the process of being destroyed. I hope that Kobayashi is OK.
Posted in: Wipe-out
0
Wolfpack
I hope President Obama's surge will have as much success as President Bush's did.
Posted in: U.S. troop deaths double in Afghanistan
0
Wolfpack
I wonder how much damage Obama's arch-Leftist buddies can cause in a year?
Posted in: Obama makes 15 recess appointments
0
Wolfpack
Obviously, the people riding the Saikyo line - one I have ridden many times myself - have a much better taste in music than the author of this story. The freakin' Dixie Chicks! She's lucky she didn't get tossed off at the station.
Posted in: Train shame
0
Wolfpack
Pretty cool looking scooter. I wouldn't drive it but the lady taking the picture would like nice riding around on it.
Posted in: Meet Mitch
0
Wolfpack
Ironically, Stupak was receiving threats from the pro-ObamaCare side before he realized it is impossible to be pro-Life in the Democrat party. Pelosi told him to toss aside his principles and he fell in line, lock-step with his leaders.
Let's all not forget, the only bi-partisanship that took place in Congress regarding ObamaCare was the opposition to it. Both Republicans and a significant number of Democrats voted against it. The partisanship came from the Left.
As for the Democrats pointing the finger at Republicans for encouraging violence against supporters of the bill, I think they have been jumping to conclusions. There have also been threats and property damage against conservatives. I always find it amusing when one political side - whether it be the Left or Right - try to state that the other side is more violent, immoral, or whatever. Human nature is the same regardless of political affiliation - there are whackos on both sides of the political divide.
Posted in: FBI investigating threats to Democrats after health care vote
0
Wolfpack
medievaltimes says:
No, not really.
Posted in: FBI investigating threats to Democrats after health care vote
0
Wolfpack
Because fighting wars voted upon by Congress is the natural role of America's federal government. Telling citizens how to live their lives is not. America's founding was based on the idea that people should be free to determine their own destiny and that citizens must be protected from government (think British parliament pre-1776). Human nature has not changed and the propensity for government to intrude upon individual liberty has not either. Besides, Socialism is never sustainable and always fails. Have you seen the state that Social Security is in these days? It has been reduced to nothing but a ponzi scheme that cannot possibly live up to the promises that were made to the citizens paying into it. No doubt Bernie Madoff is impressed by big brother Obama's achievement with health care - a program whose eventual failure is easily discerned.
It is wrong for people to be making threats against members of America's 'Social' Democrat party just as it was wrong for those threats made against former President Bush and members of his administration over the war while they were in office. No one should be encourging violence against politicians. However, I definitely understand the frustration with respect to what the government has just done. If you came to the realization that your country's founding principles were being undermined and that it is heading towards a financial disaster, you too would be angry at those responsible (though not so upset as to threaten anyone physically I am sure).
Posted in: FBI investigating threats to Democrats after health care vote
0
Wolfpack
Sarge:
I don't think the Left is concerned at all about deficits and debt; and they certainly don't care about freedom and responsibility. They would gladly give up their own right to choose (except abortions of course) so long as someone else pays for the things their way. We can't just have a system to help those that are too poor or unable to pay, we have a health care system that forces everyone to do what the government tells them to.
The fact that the nation is nearing $14 trillion in debt and already has tens of trillions in unfunded obligations for existing social programs means absolutely nothing to them. They want their "rights" and they don't care how much it costs someone else to pay for them. For some reason, the Left doesn't think that it is possible to have too much spending and that national bankruptcy is impossible.
Posted in: Health care gains start soon — bigger ones later
0
Wolfpack
I think Tiger Woods will be super focused and will likely do very well at the Masters. I just can't wait to hear the laughter after he tee's off for the first time and someone yells, "get in the hole"!
Posted in: Tiger Woods' aura gone, probably for good
0
Wolfpack
If you still do not believe that Americans do not support ObamaCare, even CNN - a very left of center news organization - has found differently:
59% against, 39% for....
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/03/22/rel5a.pdf
Don't bother looking for these numbers on the front page of CNN.com, it doesn't fit their ideological agenda.
Posted in: U.S. Congress clears historic health care bill
0
Wolfpack
President Obama did "win" by forcing through a socialist health care plan. Now, even more people will become dependent upon government, many who would rather stand on their own - but will be forced to be on ObamaCare anyway. The government now requires a much larger budget and a huge amount of taxation is about to begin.
This is what Obama means about change; dependency upon government, high taxes, more responsibility for government and less for individuals. We no longer seek to care for one another because we share common values, we do so because the government will force you to. Of course, the effect is an America where everyone seeks to maximize for themselves what benefits they can gain from the government and not from their own efforts.
America's Founders did risk their lives for this. In fact, their sacrifices were for just the opposite. No one will ever convince me that dependency is what made America great. This health care debacle is a huge and historic disaster. There is not enough money to pay for this. In fact, there isn't enough money to pay for the social programs we already have. The states are in for a financial disaster because Medicaid costs will explode. If you think California is in trouble now, wait to see how deep in debt the state will be in four years.
If you are an American and you are happy that there is now officially socialized medicine in your home country, I would suggest you take a look at the riots in the streets in Greece. That is the future of America - there is no free lunch. When you make yourself dependent upon government, but be surprised when the government screws you over. Then you will wish that you had listened to the Founders.
I wonder what the national debt will be at the end of Obama's first term?
Posted in: U.S. Congress clears historic health care bill
0
Wolfpack
adaydream says:
I'm not a Republican. I used to be, but I'm not anymore. Both parties are bankrupting my country. Democrats are just the best at creating huge government programs that require large amounts of taxation and micro-managing the daily lives of American citizens. And yes, Democrats will take huge loses this Fall. On top of the cyclical nature of politics, Democrats are simply on the wrong side of public opinion.
Americans oppose ObamaCare by about 50% to 40%. Only certain ideas in the entire plan is popular - overall it is not popular. The Democrat party is clearly going against the will of the American people. The government is forcing people to become dependent upon government so it can control them. That's just wrong.
If people were allowed to opt out of having to participate in government run health care, social security, and other programs then I would be a little less upset about it. The fact that I am forced to participate through my taxes is ridiculous. What ever happened to freedom?
Here is where my poll numbers are from: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/other/obamaanddemocratshealthcare_plan-1130.html
Posted in: Struggle over health care reform tilts Obama's way
0
Wolfpack
I hope you are right. There has been way too much funny business by both party's going on in Congress over the last couple of years / decades. They need to to doing things out in the open and in a straight forward way and not create new loopholes that undermine the democratic process.
Posted in: Struggle over health care reform tilts Obama's way
0
Wolfpack
It's a good idea. Too many Japanese dudes - not all of course - but a lot of the average younger guys you might see on the train or walking about town are exceedingly nerdy and even effeminate. It may just be that Japanese women like their men to be that way these days. For anyone with female Japanese friends, a girlfriend, or wife that might be an interesting question to ask them.
I'm just not sure that Gakct is the right guy to be rallying Japanese men to be more assertive. I know he is in show business but he can start by not wearing makeup or dying his hair. He could also get some Olympic judo champion or famous baseball player to join in the cause and lend him some cred; just a suggestion.
Posted in: Gackt to hold concert just for men
0
Wolfpack
More socialism from a government drowning in debt is pure insanity. We need another miracle to save us from big brother Obama running micro-managing our lives and wallets. People will continue to be denied care, it will just be the government denying your care through rationing. Yeah sure, you can have that operation or CT scan -assuming you live long enough! This is a disaster - Karl Marx lives and is in residence in the White House.
ObamaCare is polarizing the nation. If can only pass through illegimate legislative trickery and pure Chicago-style political thuggery. The Left will be joyous at what they think is the coming utopian communitarian world - it's just a disaster in the making. Socialism does not work and cannot work. Just look at Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid systems. They have promised benefits that they cannot possibly meet. ObamaCare will just make it that much more painful when the reality of these pie-in-the sky programs hits. This victory for the ultra-Left is a defeat for all Americans.
Posted in: Struggle over health care reform tilts Obama's way
0
Wolfpack
The bottom line is that socialism always fails. In our case, it's just in slow motion. I heard today that Medicaid has $38 trillion in unsupported future obligations. Social Security is in even worse shape. Passing health care socialization simply takes more potential sources of revenue off the table in resolving the failing social programs we already have. Adding another isn't helping.
And for those that complain about having insurance companies deny you coverage or services, just wait until your government denies even more people services. It's not as if Medicare and Medicaid are not already denying people services right now. But somehow these government "insurance companies" aren't bad. Many of those people are able to go get private insurance to make up for what the government denies. Well, ObamaCare will cut off that option. I guess then convservatives can complain about how heartless "government insurance companies" and Liberlas just want people to die.
Posted in: Democrats start countdown toward health care vote