Wednesday February 15, 2012

tkoind2's past comments

  • 3

    tkoind2

    nigelboy. I am quite happy on my high horse as long as it means caring about other people. Maybe you should try it sometime.

    In my home town this would be reported. Seattle makes quite an effort to report crimes that impact our community. It raises awareness, makes people vigilent and careful and leads us to work harder for steps to help protect people in our community.

    Whatever clandestine reason you are reaching for, people should hear about these crimes and people should do more to help the weaker members of our society.

    So how about climbing up on a horse yourself and helping out mate?

    Article Unavailable

  • 2

    tkoind2

    Chuan. You sound like the national propaganda ministry.

    1. China is growing a bubble that is an increasing risk to global economic stability. Efforts to control overheating are not as effective as China hopes.

    2. World wide people are starting to see that China is a threat. This will almost certainly lead to efforts to contain her. The change in US rhetoric towards China is already a pretty clear indicator.

    3. The Philippines and Korea are already reaching out with concerns over China and the foundations of a regional coalition are already there. If China continues her childish tacticts, it will only serve to push this forward faster.

    4. China's growth is still dependent upon her ability to export goods. Other nations can have a profound impact. The knife here cuts both ways friend.

    5. China's influence is being felt, but much of that is business opportunity. Her political influence is marginal still and with her current form of government, China is very unlikely to be able to unseat the US as a political leader on the global stage. With the EU in disarray, the US role is strengthening again.

    6. And don't forget about Russia. Near endless natural resources, a powerful and dangerous leadership and the military know how to put China in her place if necessary. Russia would not benefit from a dominant China. They want that role themselves. So there is this second front to the west that China needs to keep in mind when tossing her weight around.

    History suggests that China will have to confront her own internal demons before becoming more effective on the international stage. And that looks increasingly difficult for China to do without burning even more western bridges.

    Posted in: LDP's Ishihara wants base on China-claimed islands

  • 2

    tkoind2

    naruhodo1 doesn't understand the concept of protecting the weak. Or of defending our society against bullys and criminals. We have to see these people for what they are, cowardly opportunists.

    I too grew up in a rough place where you could get killed trying to help someone. But you know what? People in my old neighborhood would come to the aid of anyone in need. Risk be damned. They believed in doing what was right for people, for community and in line with their own values.

    I was taught to stand up for myself and for others. Lessons that have gotten me through life and kept my conscience clear. I expected more of Japanese people. With such a history of honor and civil responsibility I expected people to care more. But modern Tokyo is a shameful collection of zombies most days who ignore even when some poor older person falls down or is crushed under the mad rush of salarymen. It is really sad.

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  • 1

    tkoind2

    Chuan. Japan won't be alone in containing China. She has the US strategic alliance at her back. Something China is and will continue to be ill prepared to face.

    Second Japan can and likely will form regional alliances with the Philippines, Korea and other nations who are equally concerned. Making a grand coalition devoted to assuring that China either plays nice with her neighbors or isolated.

    People are waking up to the fact that China is a threat. The good news is that many Chinese are also starting to see that their current form of government and its objectives are no in line with their personal 'westernized" ambitions. Meanwhile working class and lower working class Chinese are starting to see just how big the gap between government propaganda and reality is becoming. Internal strife alone may keep China in check. There are a dozen books on this topic alone.

    So try to paint Japan is a black a color as you can. The world is not afraid of Japan. The rise of the yens shows that the world has some considerable faith here still. But the world is rightfully growing very warry of China.

    And then you can consider how the Russians factor into this. I can tell you this much for certain, not on China's corner.

    Posted in: LDP's Ishihara wants base on China-claimed islands

  • 1

    tkoind2

    One more note Naruhodo1. If more Japanese showed concern for others, then the bully would not be confronted only by the rare caring person. He or she would be confronted by many people representing community and society.

    Older people in Japan still get this concept. The younger people here are too self absorbed to even communicate with each other, let alone come to the aid of someone in need. This is sad and shameful and bodes very poorly for the state of society in the future.

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  • 6

    tkoind2

    naruhodo1. Thanks for trying to make these thugs sound practical. But you are missing the forest for the tree friend.

    1. Why would an old man walking in the part at 3am have any significant amount of money? Your easy opportunity argument is in conflict with the economic pragmatism argument you pose. A smart theif would know that the poor old guys wandering parks at 3am would not have significant amounts of money, thus making the attack a risk with little reward.

    2. Bully's are cowards. Sure they only pick on someone smaller. But you justify that as a rationale for why they are not cowards? All bullys are cowards, because all bully's only pick on people who are unable to do them signficant harm. Or so they think. Once in a while small guys like me fight back, not only to win in the moment, but to prevent future attacks. You can ask my past bullies in school how that worked out for them.

    3. As for bravery getting your 'ass kicked". Sure, sometimes it happens. But I would rather have my ass kicked while trying to helpsomeone, than to stand by helplessly and let someone fall to harm. It isn't courage friend. It is social morality and responsibility. Something you clearly need a lesson in.

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  • 3

    tkoind2

    Diplomacy first, but China needs to be put in check. That is an inescapable fact for every other nation in Asia. And by default of treaties, a problem for the US.

    Better to put the wall up now before it is too late.

    Posted in: LDP's Ishihara wants base on China-claimed islands

  • -1

    tkoind2

    Make the world Vegas.... or was it England....?

    Posted in: It would be an engine for fiscal revival and job creation that wouldn’t require raising taxes.

  • 3

    tkoind2

    I agree and disagree with you.

    1. There are certainly some things that you cannot change. Death, taxes, permanent injury etc... And it is healthy to confront these issues realistically and to accept the things that you cannot change. But....

    2. The are far more things that can be changed. The word "Shoganai' should be banned.

    You say you have to accept people the way they are. Well, yes and no. Evil people, bullies, corrupt people, harmful people can and should be changed. I will never accept a bad person just because that is they way they are.

    There are injustices in the world that look impossible to change. But look at Apartheid in South Africa. It took time, blood and support of people world wide, but it changed. Look at slavery in the US. It took a lot of lives lost but it changed.

    We cannot view the world as something beyond our power. Nor should we mindlessly accept everything as "it is". This thinking is Japan's greatest failing. It is why your people are not in the streets demanding direly needed political change. It is why corrupt people carry on in office. It is why the helpless are not protected from the evil here. It is why Japan will fall deeper and lower behind rivals in Asia if this thinking does not change.

    Stop hiding behind "Shoganai" and take responsibility for the world around you. Nothing improves, EVER, if you do not believe in the posiblity of change and in the very real fact that nearly nothing is impossible.

    Posted in: Accepting it as it is

  • 0

    tkoind2

    Taxes will help kill off what little spending there is in the Japanese economy today. Not to mention putting greater hardship on the legions of unemployed, underemployed and those living at or below poverty levels.

    It is a braindead approach.

    Bottom line Noda and Osawa. You need something new this time. A Japanese "New Deal" to put people to work. Many leading economists have already said this. Invest in infrastructure and create jobs. That will help.

    New taxes? Recipie for failure.

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  • -9

    tkoind2

    The obsession with these young girls is sad. If it was all abouth teens loving these teenage girls, then no problem. But it is the legions of creepy 30+yr old guys who obsess over these girls that is profoundly disturbing.

    Posted in: Second AKB48 documentary to hit cinemas on Jan 27

  • 6

    tkoind2

    These numbers are skewed. They only show people who are "officially" unemployed. If you have been out of work a very long time, you are not included in these numbers. The real number is significantly higher and growing.

    Then you can also consider "Underemployment" for the legions of people who have had to take part time work after the loss of full time work. Then these numbers go up even more.

    And that is all before you consider the 17%+ who live in poverty with little or no hope of better employment.

    The media and governments don't want to say it, but since 2008 working people have been living through a second great depression.

    Posted in: No. of welfare recipients reaches record high

  • 5

    tkoind2

    One more note. Japanese people, you need to care about others. All the time I see some bully or violent guy doing something terrible to someone. Threatening them, shouting at them or bullying them. And you know what, everyone around is silent.

    A few weeks ago a friend, tiny sweet girl, got molested on a train. She shouted but not a soul responded. The guy then told her, he recongized her school uniform and would come after her if she got him in trouble. All this on a busy train.

    Not one soul helped her. And I can tell you many other stories including someone who pushed my wife down.

    I know it may cause me trouble, but when I see someone weak under attack, I help. Why the hell don't you?

    Article Unavailable

  • 1

    tkoind2

    Wow, cowardly assailants starting our early. Isn't is shameful enough that the rabid salarymen who attack people always pick on school girls? Now the teens have to find some poor old guys to pick on.

    Spineless cowards here would never dare attack anyone who could actually fight back. Now and then some drunk bully on a train will be picking on some tiny girl. But if someone like me, a small and quiet foreigner, takes an interest in their activity and stares them down, they run away. Courage enough to bully the weak, but not enough to take on even a gentle foreign man able to confront them.

    This kind of criminal makes me sick to my core. I despise people who victimize the weakest members of our society. There should be an extra horrid prison for them when they are caught.

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  • 1

    tkoind2

    One more note. I am not a fan of the LDP or of this Ishihara character. They too are not dealing in reality. Japan should maintain close ties with the US and grow new strategic ties with the rest of Asia to form a coalition to keep China in check and to avoid a new cold war.

    Posted in: LDP's Ishihara wants base on China-claimed islands

  • 0

    tkoind2

    Chuan. Why does China deserve respect from Japan or anyone else? Has China resolved her many human rights violations? No. Has China strongly contributed to the well being of the world in any kind of selfless manner? No. Has China shown respect for her own ethnic minorities? No.

    So what exactly are you expecting people around the world to respect? China's military power? Sorry but both Japan and the US exceed that power today. China's economic power? While admirable, it is built upon an unsustainable bubble and any respect would also need to consider growing discontentment amongst those not included in the growing wealth. China's own working masses and their Maoist heritage my bite the pseudo-capitalists running China today. And not long from now.

    So we are back to why Japan, or anyone else, should show defference to China. I think China and her bully policies in Asia should be scolded as the tempermental child it behaves as. Asia should unite to counter Chinese aggression and bullying. And put China in her place. Beginning by attaching any future economic development from abroad to changes in her policies.

    The phrase of the decade "Contain China" and do it now!

    Posted in: LDP's Ishihara wants base on China-claimed islands

  • -3

    tkoind2

    There is enough hard reality in the world later in life. Kids should experience magical things and wonderful visions of how we all wish things could be. Let them be kids, let them dream and let them enjoy. There is plenty of time for hard reality later.

    If I have kids, you bet there will be magic for Christmas and all the other holidays.

    Posted in: Do you, or did you, encourage your young children to believe in Santa Claus?

  • 0

    tkoind2

    Well done Nakagawa-san. You are an example for all of the world.

    Posted in: I have a simple calculation for life. When you see people in need, you have two choices, either you help or you don't. I have to help.

  • 2

    tkoind2

    Why does it surprise anyone that bankers are corrupt, greedy and willing to break rules for profit? Isn't that in the job description?

    The real problem the world faces today is greed and the lack of strong regulation to keep these people in line. They complain endlessly about how regulation is harming their business. But what this means is "regulation is keeping us honest so we cannot make money."

    Regulate the hell out of banking before it ruins the world for the rest of us.

    Posted in: Citigroup, UBS accused of rate manipulation in Japan

  • 5

    tkoind2

    Did anyone call Shindler's list propaganda?

    I am quite anti-Chinese government for the most part. And see their nation's bullying of Asia to be a forerunner of the same kind of imperialist violence that Japan unleashed in Asia in the last century. That said, China does have a point about the violence perpetrated by the Japanese during their reign over Asia. Like it or not, horrific things happened all across Asia acted out by the Japanese.

    I have great respect for Germany and how they have embraced their past and committed to never repeating it. Their film industry has done a great deal to portray the war though visions that are neither romantic nor forgiving.

    Japan on the other hand, continues to make heroic films illustrating their role in the war as victim, hero and people hanging in there. Rarely if ever does Japan make cinema to portray the war as it was in many places around Asia, violent, senseless and evil.

    If Japan cannot adress these issues, then China should be free to do so.

    The main objective here should be simple. Cinema should help educate us to the horrors of war and encourage us all, regardless of nationality, to abhore and prevent war. If China uses this simply as propaganda, then they become no better than the people responsible for starting the last war, because they invite the next one.

    Posted in: Christian Bale denies Nanjing Massacre film is propaganda

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