Our greatest calamity: Bad, immoral governance

One cannot imagine that Typhoon No. 18 had just passed through our place in Ibaraki. It was as if yesterday, the strong gusty, nasty winds did not stop major train schedules all throughout Japan. It was as if no houses were damaged in certain parts of Japan, no roads and bridges destroyed, no lives lost.

It was our first ever typhoon experience in Japan but one worth remembering and sharing. It is a lesson worth writing about - how a solid emergency system can spare lives and damage and provide genuine, widespread assistance quickly, thoroughly.

Only the gusty winds of the passing storm, no rains, came our way. However, the winds were strong enough either to stop most trains from operating or to force trains to reduce their speed. The winds of the storm stopped thousands of people from reaching their work, their universities, other destinations.

But, throughout the crowded train stations where commuters had to wait for trains to resume operation (hours after!), Japan's emergency system was clearly evident.

At the station gates, trained, patient, polite train personnel were out to assist passengers with their questions, with their needs. In the unusually crowded stations, there were thousands of stranded passengers but there was order and there was silence even. People lined up as calmly as they would during non-storm days. What changed was the number of train personnel visible throughout the train station to assist those in need.

 The schools also have a solid communication brigade which involves informing the parents about very important announcements affecting the schoolchildren.

As the storm lashed out in various areas of Japan, within minutes, a work crew appeared where houses and families were affected. So far, the number of lives lost have been limited to 2.

The Japanese have also long prepared for other disasters and calamities. Evacuation centers and areas have long been assigned. Without doubt, communication systems as well as food ration and other welfare-oriented assistance networks are also in place. Evidently, disaster and calamity funds have been amply provided for and effectively spent.

The contrast with our country's disaster/calamity management system is so striking; it is now so much easier to clearly understand why.

We have allowed ourselves to bear the greatest calamity to overstay in our country. Even the Pope had zeroed in on what we need to do to start anew. We have to get rid of bad, immoral governance - our greatest calamity.

Such type of governance is worse than any typhoon or calamity. Immoral governance drains the resources of our country. Rain or shine, storm or calm, immoral leaders will wipe out all possible funds available for the public, for their own personal and family interests.

Such type of immoral leaders use up public funds allotted for calamities and victims for trips, for private needs, never for public welfare. Immoral governance finds calamity funds all spent, long before the arrival and departure of calamities. Bad governance delights and uses calamities as excuse to get more funds for the people but which mostly end up in private coffers.

Calamities do not overstay but immoral leaders do. They will cling on to undeserved power and unexplained wealth for as long as they can, however they can.

Immoral governance is unmindful of the destruction their policies bring to people and to the environment. Immoral governance brings on the natural calamities in turn, bring damage and destruction to people and nature.

More seriously, immoral governance corrodes the spirit and the hearts of the governed who end up desperate enough to sell their votes, to sell even their today and tomorrow for food and water this minute for themselves and their families.

Immoral governance has no clear and amply funded disaster/calamity management system for the general public. Clearly, immoral leaders are this country's greatest disaster and calamity.

Disasters and calamities, however, do not stay forever. Human-created calamities, such as the selection of immoral leaders may have been in our midst for so long and too often, just as typhoons. Still, we can put our act together and in a united fashion, deliberately design a very effective , pro-people anti-calamity management system.

Let us allow the lessons of the typhoons that visited our country to reach our people. Let the greatest realization after all these typhoons and disasters lead our people to get rid of our greatest calamity in our midst - bad, immoral governance and leaders.

* * *

Email: [email protected]