|
|
|
Comparisons
of suicide rates are part of a larger discussion of social instability
where, indeed, the US has its own problems. Few countries envy the US in
terms of its inner-city poverty, teenage gangs, drug rings, the abundance
of guns, violent crimes and other chronic problems of American society. Nonetheless,
clearly the US press revels in depicting the growing social problems
facing recession-plagued Japan including, among other issues, the rise in
teen pregnancies, school dropouts, and unemployment. There is perhaps
satisfaction, among some Americans, to believe they are not alone in their
social ills, which reflects an arrogant viewpoint and a blindness to the
severity of their own problems. At any rate, I believe the proposed
solutions of these and other social problems reflect the beliefs and
values of the policy makers of each country, and should be respected
accordingly. |
 The
US model emphasizes a laissez-faire approach; at its worst, this belief
provides an environment for winners to succeed and forgets the others. The
conservative (Republican) view is that deregulation and tax cuts, for
example, produce a rising tide that raises all boats: that is, a strong
economy overall benefits everyone from top to bottom. The truth is that
there is greater disparity between winners and losers in terms of income
in the US today than 30 years ago. The liberal (Democratic) view is that government should intervene to support those who have missed this
prosperity.
In
any event, the US social model has not been successful. Poverty rates in
the US are the highest since the Great Depression of the 1930s. To be sure
countries around the world, specifically Japan, have noticed the pitfalls
of the US capitalist model. Economists, such as Paul Krugman, are
flag-bearers for the US model and frequently criticize Japan for not
solving its economic problems using across the board deregulation and
privately-funded, corporate restructuring. Most recently, one hears the
complaint: Why is the Japanese taxpayer being forced to bailout problem
banks?
Perhaps
the Japanese policy makers are more socially responsible than in the US.
It is the decision of Japan and the US (through democratic means) to
determine how to treat its people. Currently, perhaps the Japanese believe
it is best to share the responsibility of corporate restructurings over
its entire populace through higher tax rates than to suffer the pitfalls
of high poverty rates and disparities in income that plague the US. At any
rate, I believe no country should be forced into accepting the US
capitalist model: there is much to be learned from US policy mistakes and
Japanese lawmakers have a right to take a more socialist approach if they
so choose. This is not to suggest the Japanese model will succeed, but
that people of different cultures view their own social issues uniquely
and should be allowed to reach their own solutions. Unfortunately, the US
media is intellectually unable to respect the sovereignty of nations and
the different approach governments choose to follow. To them, the US
capitalist model is infallible.
Related
articles: Dissolving
stereotypes of Japan
Prozac
and other antidepressants being investigated by FDA
|
