"John W." <worthj1970@yahoo.komm> wrote in message
news:4004AD01.6050009@yahoo.komm...
> thegoons wrote:
> > We have all seen it:
> >
> > - three men waving flags on a highway to indicate a lane closure
> >
> > - five policemen standing at the pedestrian crossing outside Lumine in
> > Shinjuku to direct pedestrians across a street that maybe 1 car in 5
minutes
> > uses
> >
> > - five security guards directing traffic/pedestrinas at a quiet
intersection
> > outside JRA betting-hall in Shirahama, Fukushima-ken
> >
> > - the seemingly pointless lone flag-waver/whistle-blower directing buses
> > into/out of the bus terminal at Nagoya Station
> >
> My favorite was the policeman in Himeji directing traffic in the Uomachi
> district in the mornings. Nary a car in sight; probably less than a
> dozen total for the entire morning (he was outside my office window and
> the street was rarely used).
>
> > Is this disguised unemployment on the downturn or still a "necessity" of
> > Japan? I am not totally against it, as it keeps people off (living on)
the
> > streets in a country with such a poor social welfare system.
> >
> What about their social welfare system don't you like?
>
> John W.

I guess Australia is a bit too lenient as far as social welfare goes; just
basically even if you have no family to support you, you still get some form
of basic income from the government to keep you off the street (mainly only
those with mental problems on the streets here), whereas in Japan, based on
the number of people living on the streets and stations, I am just
"assuming" the social welfare system there is not generous enough to provide
even basic cover?? Please correct me if I am wrong.