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Do you think the government should take control of TEPCO?

8 Comments

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8 Comments
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No, from news reports and tepco demands it seems TEPCO has full control over Govt.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I would say yes if I believed the government could do a better job of running Tepco and resolving the crisis. But just look at the government, then at Tepco and show me any difference in capability. Pretty sad isn't it?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes and no. No in the form as it is planned now, giving public money in exchange for a controlling stake. On the other hand, the sad fact is that TEPCO in it's current form won't be able to shoulder the costs of the nuclear disaster, so there is no way out of spending public money on it. The question is only how.

My proposal: let TEPCO go bankrupt. Letting TEPCO go bankrupt does not mean that the power supply will be interrupted, but it may be necessary to give some kind of guarantee to suppliers that their bills will be paid. Buy the remains of the company for a symbolic price of 1¥. Sell all assets except Fukushima Daiichi, making sure in the process that the power network is separated and open for free competition.

The important point is that the government must not spend public money to pay out existing shareholders of TEPCO or even paying damages for their losses. Don't forget that the shareholders have sued TEPCO for their losses and when the government takes over TEPCO without precautions it risks to pay double.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In Japan, does it matter who's the boss? At the end of the day, it all come down to bad management.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

from fry pan to fire - they are all to blame with false reports, skipped safety checks, amakudari....... btw, i am all for nuclear power but also all for safety.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I only two reasons to say yes, and one is that we have more hope of accountability with the government taking control, even if that hope is slim. And that is both toward the TEPCO execs who will be relieved and the government officials who will make decisions, and also the hope that any information TEPCO has hidden will be released.

Reason two is that decisions will no longer be made with the profit incentive in mind, but rather, with the next election in mind. That too is not a magic bullet, but it is slightly better overall. I doubt a government official would have hesitated to pour straight sea water in the thing to prevent a meltdown, etc.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Tepco keeps walking with it's emperor's clothes. They are accountable to nobody and they show it in everything they do, and even that they do with 1970's technology level. Japanese people don't need this North Koreanesque clique ruining everybody's lives.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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