The Lamb and the Wolf of Japan's economy.

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LE Loup et l' Agneau. | Photo 02

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By, Uwe Paschen.

 The eternal game of victims and predators or Rich and poor, Labourer and Masters. Maybe even as La Fontaine once wrote Lamb and Wolf in a Fable from long ago.

 There I was visiting the Tsukagoshi shipping company as I do twice a week and usually make small talk with the Drivers, Office staff and Labourer working there. Over the course of time, we came to know each other rather well talking about our children, Family, pets and projects as well as the odd subject of Politics and the economy.

 However today was a different day, all where quiet and some what on the edge, some even stressed and other filed with fear even panic, at least so it seemed as I walked in to the Office as I usually do. No one said much other then the polite “good day” with respectful bow. The room field with a dense vibe almost ready to explode and breaking the think air and intense felling that a disaster had just happened at the Tsukagoshi shipping company.

 I dared to ask, since I could no longer stand the silence. And soon was told that the Owner had come all the way from Kyoto to meet the staff of the branch here in Narita, to tell them that they had to do the same jobs as usual, however now with a 20% pay cut and that all the temp staff and secretarial staff was to be laid off.

 This is bad news in deed I though to my self, knowing all to well what this meant for them. A 20% pay cut is a lot of money for a Labourer and Driver here in Japan since the wages are not that hight as is and the cost of living is rather hight around here. To the point that for most Fruits and meat are already a luxury as is and now will become more of a dream making them unaffordable.

 Some of the temporary staff that now lost their Jobs all together are in an even worth position since they do not qualify for unemployment and worth of are those whose Spouse had already lost their job earlier this year. They do not even know how to pay the rent or mortgage any longer, most have less then a month to find another job before entering the vicious cycle of losing it all and joining the homeless and desperate of this game our rich and powerful leaders have been playing for two decades now.

 Wile the Politician of all ranks and parties as well as their friends the Bankers and stock brokers enjoy their sake and Sushi in Tokyo and their counterpart in New York and Washington do the same the people are starved and put be on the limits of what any one should have to endure in a democratic and just society.

 Most of the Labourer and even the Management was furious and yet quiet and polite controlling their anger and fears as Japanese do. Yet dreaming of justice and wanting those that played them and risked all this for their own gain and now demand a bail out on top of it, those they want before the court and on the streets so they may fell with their own flesh what it means to starve and freeze with out hope nor help.

 Taro Aso, Japan’s PM has now less the 11% approval rating and his party is in a free fall, already a minority government as is, it has no chance to be re-elected even with the wildest of miracle. Yet the Communist enjoy a strong growth in ranks and may even become the next government. As I talked with some of those that now support the Communist Party asking them if they where not afraid this may restrict some of the freedom and markets trade as well as hamper international relation, at least the potential is there. They told me what good are free markets and freedom if we starve and end up homeless.  A convincing argument in deed I though, maybe it is meant to be that way and I am sure that Mikhail Gorbachev would smile hearing those Labourer long for a new communism as he said in 1990 as the USSR was dismantled, first we will see Communism fall, followed by Capitalism and bring us true Marxism in the end.

 Maybe he was right after all. In the mean time many will have to fear for their future and families with out much hope to see it improve any time soon. Ernesto is gaining new fame though once more.

 (The Lamb and the Wolf) Le Loup et l' Agneau.

Fable de La Fontaine.

“La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure :

            Nous l'allons montrer tout à l'heure.

              Un agneau se désaltérait

            Dans le courant d'une onde pure.

Un loup survient à jeun, qui cherchait aventure,

        Et que la faim en ces lieux attirait.

"Qui te rend si hardi de troubler mon breuvage?

            Dit cet animal plein de rage :

Tu seras châtié de ta témérité.

-Sire, répond l'agneau, que Votre Majesté

            Ne se mette pas en colère ;

            Mais plutôt qu'elle considère

            Que je me vas désaltérant

                    Dans le courant,

            Plus de vingt pas au-dessous d'Elle ;

Et que par conséquent, en aucune façon,

            Je ne puis troubler sa boisson.

- Tu la troubles, reprit cette bête cruelle,

Et je sais que de moi tu médis l'an passé.

-Comment l'aurais-je fait si  je n'étais pas né ?

        Reprit l'agneau ; je tette encor ma mère

            -Si ce n'est toi, c'est donc ton frère.

        - Je n'en ai point. -C'est donc quelqu'un des tiens :

            Car vous ne m'épargnez guère,

            Vous, vos bergers et vos chiens.

On me l'a dit : il faut que je me venge."

            Là-dessus, au fond des forêts

            Le loup l'emporte et puis le mange,

             Sans autre forme de procès.”