Let's talk about the "Good Ol' Boys network" of corruption and a corrupt government and the police...
What would happen to you at work if you shirked your duties and went off on a vacation leaving important matters unattended?
You'd most probably lose your job because your boss would fire you immediately upon your return (if he didn't fire you while you were gone).
What would happen to you if, in the course of your daily affairs or duties, you made a serious mistake in judgement that resulted in someone getting seriously injured or crippled for life?
You'd most probably would get sued in court and be paying money for the rest of your life and go to jail.
What would happen to you if you made a mistake driving a car and hit someone by accident and injured them or killed them?
Depending upon the circumstances, you might lose your driving license, go to jail or even lose your house, family and your job.
What would happen to you if, in the course of your duties at work or at home, you committed negligence that resulted in death?
You would probably go to jail for a long time... No matter what, you'd lose your job and be sued in court and be paying money for the rest of your life. You'd probably lose your house and family too.
How about if you knowingly committed negligence that resulted in the death of, not one, but two people? What would happen to you then?
Oh, you'd lose your job in disgrace, go to prison for a long time and lose everything you owned and cared for....
How about if you worked for the police department and knowingly committed negligence that resulted in the death of, not one, but two people? What would happen to you then?
Nothing much. You'd get "disciplinary action." A slap on the wrist or two. That's it. You wouldn't lose your job. You wouldn't take a pay cut. You would basically not have to face any of the penalties that the rest of us would face in the real world.
That's how it goes in Japan (and most countries today) as, you see, there are different laws for the peasants (you and me) and the ruling classes (politicians, rich, and government workers). That's what has happened in Chiba, Japan after the facts came out that when a father reported a stalking case to police in December of last year the police were too busy to take care of it. You, see, the police were busy planning a drinking vacation up north so they told the father to come back after they were back from vacation... While the cops were away, partying on the public dime, the man's wife and his mother-in-law were murdered by the stalker.
The Mainichi News has the story in Disciplinary action taken against Chiba police superintendent in stalking probe case
How about firing his a*s or serving up his head on a platter?
It has been reported that the police chief has been "dismissed." But don't misunderstand what that means, folks. He was dismissed from his post. He wasn't fired, nor will he lose his job or pay or retirement pay. He was dismissed from his position.
He'll be back as station chief, at that station or another district, in no time. That's how it works. This sort of thing has happened many times.
That the people are not in an uproar over this is just astounding. I've spoken with several Japanese citizens about this case and, while they are disgusted, they shrug their shoulders and basically all told me the same thing: that this sort of episode happens often.
The basic story is as I have related: The in-charge person is "disciplined." This "discipline" is announced in the mass media... Later on, it is revealed that the extent of the discipline is a 3 to 6 month transfer to another section only to be transferred back to their former job after that time. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
It's all a part and parcel of the "Good Old Boys network."
Though dealing with the police in Japan is not nearly as dangerous or risky as dealing with the police in the USA, it basically comes down to the same thing, ultimately: There's different rules for our rulers and for us.
As the economy worsens and the government drains to lifeblood out of the working public to pay for unsustainable government spending and debt, one has to wonder just how long this will go on until something breaks.
The people shouldn't have to tolerate this. This is Japan, not the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany or the United States.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteCan you name a nation where this doesn't happen?
The story is troubling enough. What is even more troubling is the situations where a member of the police isn't just negligent, but murders someone under a dictatorship, and then when democracy is restored, they are not punished, but rewarded.
The prime factor in these cases doesn't seem to do right, and prevent wrong, but to be a loyal obedient slave to whomever the master in charge is. That seems to be the utmost criteria does it not?