Japan government losing public trust as nuclear crisis worsens

Reuters ^ | Mar. 15, 2011

[nuconvert]

(Reuters) – Public trust in the Japanese government faces its biggest test since World War Two over the handling of the nation's nuclear crisis, raising concerns that a breakdown in confidence could fuel panic and chaos if appeals for calm go unheeded.

Foreigners are leaving Tokyo, or shutting themselves indoors, and supermarket shelves are running empty despite authorities assuring citizens there is no need to panic from the crisis unfolding at a quake-stricken nuclear power plant.

The government of Prime Minister Naoto Kan was already unpopular before the disasters.

"This government is useless," Masako Kitajima, a Tokyo office worker in her 50s, said as radiation levels ticked up in the city of around 12 million people, more than 200 km south of the nuclear plant where officials battled to avert disaster.

[Uncle Ike]

When you place your faith in Government - or any human endeavor - to be omnipotent and omniscient, you’re gonna be disappointed.....

(Does anybody else find the use of the word ‘faith’ in this context to be ‘interesting’, and a little bit unsettling??)

[armymarinemom]

I’m ashamed to say that I haven’t kept up with Japan’s politics. I have no idea what the leadership is like right now.

[armymarinemom]

(Does anybody else find the use of the word ‘faith’ in this context to be ‘interesting’, and a little bit unsettling??)

I do. The media often tries to replace God with government.

[Uncle Ike]

” I do. The media often tries to replace God with government. “

It’s not just the Media, or even the Liberals — if ya pay attention, you’d be surprised, and a bit saddened, at how often you see commenters on this forum express undue faith in, and demands on, Government....

It permeates our whole society....

[all the best]

“(Does anybody else find the use of the word ‘faith’ in this context to be ‘interesting’, and a little bit unsettling??)”

Nothing surprising here. In America most people put their faith and trust in government to meet their needs and solve all our problems. Not only most Americans but unfortunately most who call themselves Christians.

[Steamburg]

Things are hard and will probably get more difficult, but Japanese society has long shown a cultural cohesiveness that transcends the goading of agenda driven, “western reporters”. May God help the Japanese through these troubled times and give them the strength to overcome both their natural disasters and the ones imported by the media.

[Wolfie]

Nonsense. I’m assured on a daily basis by experts (who no doubt wouldn’t go anywhere near the area) that all is well, and there is no danger.

[mlocher]

how often you see commenters on this forum express undue faith in, and demands on, Government

1. You are correct, but I have some patience with conservative people who want to use government to promote God's will.

2. Many liberals who do not want to acknowledge God are still looking for a higher moral authority -- government. In this scenario, the liberals think that they can define the values and laws of government. That is, they play God.

Finally, it should be obvious to many that government is a power that becomes a barrier between individuals and Jesus Christ.

[TigerLikesRooster]

This would become a big problem unless gov find a way to turn it around. Japanese expect that the system put in place by them and run by officials would do the job. Most of the time it has been true, and Japanese got to depend on them. In essence, they have a detailed manual in place which prescribes what to do if something happens, and grew accustomed to it.

So they patiently wait until system comes around and get its job done. However, what if the system no longer operates as it should because the scope of disaster is too great (and furthermore gov turns out to be incompetent?)

It will shake the foundation of political/social arrangement in place since WWII. If this gov cannot step up and take care of problem decisively, the current crisis could become a game-changer. Stagnation of two lost decades could end with a bang.

[Buckeye McFrog]

"This government is useless," Masako Kitajima, a Tokyo office worker

Looks like the Japanese are finally having their Founding Fathers Moment...

[.45ACP CPD]

It is hard to find information about the situation you can trust for sure, but I do believe this:

Drudge is winning the Golden Crown of All Time for Satire, by bald-facedly posting every apocalyptic and chickenlittle statement by MSM outlets.

[FirstFlaBn]

Western media is incompetent in matters of science (much less engineering). They have displayed this ignorance over and over during the past few days. They are comfortable, however, in political coverage, so it was inevitable the attention would turn to politics. Doesn’t mean they will do it well, but they’re eager for a chance to promote government control.

[CitizenM]

Whatever the Japanese government tells or does not tell; does or does not do...the results of this tragedy will go on for years and years because there are things that just can't be fixed by man. After all the initial clean up and re-building, the ground area where the nuclear reactors will remain contaminated. The ground and vegetation have been coated by radiation and who would want to live on that ground or in that area? Who would want to have a house or apartment on contaminated ground...or farm there, raise crops there, or raise their children anywhere near there?

For an already crowded island, it seems space will become more of a problem because of the quake/tsunami/nuclear radiation catastrophe they have endured that has claimed their precious land.

[MrInvisible]

Can we deport the muzzies and illegals and replace them with hard-working, super-smart, zero-crime prone Japanese?

[eak3]

This is all crazy talk. Many of the good FR people say there is nothing wrong and your crazy to worry.

[NFHale]

“...but Japanese society has long shown a cultural cohesiveness that transcends the goading of agenda driven, ...”

Gee...we used to be like that too...[sigh]

[triumphant values]

It’s only the third strongest earthquake in recorded human history. I mean come on, why can’t they get it together over there? /s