"Ask not what your country can do for you … "

Connell, R. (2005, September 23). Effusive freshman lets politicians' pretty-sitting kitty out of bag. MSN-Mainichi Daily News

The above is an article about newly-elected Dietman (Representative in the Japan national legislature) Taizo Sugimura who is … extremely impressed by his own salary, apartment, and other perks that come with his public office. He is an embarrasmsent to his office, his party, and his country, especially to those like me who support the Koizumi Revolution whose wave Sugimura-kun road into such a great new job.

Of course, here in Japan politicians making asses of themselves is a long tradition, and in perspective Mr. Sugimura's remarks are harmless if galling. Here's hoping he sobers up and remembers who is paying for all those perks and who gave him the new job, or else he gets a pink slip in the next election. Maybe sponsoring an austerity bill for Dietmen's perks would be a good first project.

… ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.
— John F. Kennedy, Inaugural address, January 20, 1961

UPDATE

It seems Mr. Sugimura has been taken behind the woodshed by his senior LDPers and has apopologized for his obnoxious remarks. I hope the paddling has really given him a clue.

Taizo, the accidental lawmaker, apologizes for ill-suited remarks (AP) (2005, September 28). MSN-Mainichi Daily News

The system of proportional representation seats was introduced in Japan several years ago on an attempt at election reform. I need to study the details of how it works because it seems like voodoo to me, especially in view of the quality of at least some who manage to get elected accidentally.