The Yakuza and the Nuclear Mafia: Nationalization Looms for TEPCO(to kick out mobs?)

The Atlantic ^ | 12/30/11 | Jake Adelstein

[TigerLikesRooster]

The Yakuza and the Nuclear Mafia: Nationalization Looms for TEPCO

Jake Adelstein 2,500 Views Dec 30, 2011

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the monolithic corporation that controls all electric power in Greater Tokyo, and runs the Fukushima Daichii nuclear plant that experienced a triple meltdown following the March 11 earthquake, is on the brink of nationalization according to Japanese government sources. The official reason is that the firm may not be able to handle the massive compensation payments it owes to victims of the meltdown without going bankrupt. Unofficially, the firm has such long-standing ties to anti-social forces, including the yakuza—that some members of the Diet, Japan’s national legislature, feel the firm is beyond salvation and needs to be taken over and cleaned up. A Japanese Senator with the Liberal Democratic Party stated on background, "TEPCO's involvement with anti-social forces and their inability to filter them out of the work-place is a national security issue. It is one reason that increasingly in the Diet we are talking de facto nationalization of the company. Nuclear energy shouldn't be in the hands of the yakuza. They're gamblers and an intelligent person doesn't want them to have atomic dice to play with."

[TigerLikesRooster]

P!

[Pontiac]

A Japanese Senator with the Liberal Democratic Party stated on background, "TEPCO's involvement with anti-social forces and their inability to filter them out of the work-place is a national security issue. It is one reason that increasingly in the Diet we are talking de facto nationalization of the company. Nuclear energy shouldn't be in the hands of the yakuza. They're gamblers and an intelligent person doesn't want them to have atomic dice to play with."

So the Yakusa is different from the Government in what way?

Governments running industries frequently gamble as well. Governments that run industries will frequently skim off profits and fail to reinvest in a companies infrastructure in order to finance social programs.

The results are essentially the same as we saw in Japan’s Fukushima melt downs. The same effects are also seen in Mexico’s federally owned oil company; poor production and declining market share.

If a country takes over a competitive company it is nearly a forgone conclusion that the company in the end will be less competitive and will decline in most if not all measurable performance areas, with the possible exception of number of employees on the payroll.

[ronnie raygun]

A Japanese Senator with the Liberal Democratic Party

So we can assume that the above will be of purest of honor integrity, responsibility and non corrupt? The key here is LIBERAL DEMOCRATE and GOVERNMENT CONTROL. yeah right!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The Japanese government might as well take over TEPCO. They acquiesced or approved every stupid decision the utility made since its inception. Look on the bright side. Nebraska and the city of Omaha each run their own utilities and both are thrifty and efficient. There's hope...

[mewzilla]

Meanwhile, from a couple of days ago....

TEPCO to raise electricity rates for business customers

[justa-hairyape]

Can think of a lot of things the mafia can efficiently run, (prostitution, home and office construction, drugs, illegal betting, etc. etc.). But having the mafia work, build and operate a nuclear plant seems to be a little bit outside their specialty. But hey, I am not a nuclear scientist.

Can you imagine during a nuclear emergency when a reactor is on the verge of melting down ?

Did you call me funny looking ?
No, I just meant this meltdown thing was kinda funny.
You sure you are not calling me funny looking ?

At any rate, 2 of the Fukushima 50 were reportedly members of the Yakuza. And they claim Yakuza stayed behind while Tepco management moved out to Fukushima City during the actual meltdowns (while the SHTF).

[justa-hairyape]

In case anyone takes the humor above the wrong way, it is a reference to a very graphic Joe Pesci scene in GoodFellas. Guess he never actually stated, are you calling me funny looking, but the inference was there. He did state, do I look like a clown to you ?.

Oh well, a new year is almost upon us, and how the heck could it be any worse then 2011 ?

[bgill]

So the Yakusa is different from the Government in what way?

Six of one, half a dozen of the other. Decisions, decisions.