JAPANESE MAY SURPASS AMERICAN PRODUCTIVITY  

New information often changes perspective. Consider Japan with a population of 127 million people, and the United States with 250 million people. Which country should be more productive? A close look may change your response.

Japanese longevity rates are tops. Women already are living to an average age of 82, men 76 years. Japan has a 98.7 percent literacy level. Americans live five to six years less than the Japanese. About 20 percent of the American population are illiterate, and up to another 20 percent are functionally illiterate, depending upon measuring criteria. These people are unable to read a book and comprehend it thoroughly, create concepts or complete any but the simplest forms. Almost another 10 percent of Americans are physically disabled through drugs and alcohol or in prison. The latest Louis Harris poll says that fewer than 30 percent of the estimated 43 million physically-disabled Americans are employed. Many of these Americans were not productive in yesterday's society, never mind tomorrow's. That makes the effective wealth-producing population segment of America below that of Japan. So about half the American population are not only non-productive in the modern sense, but are also a drain on the productivity of the wealth-creating working people. That further adds to the productivity imbalance, compared to Japan. Can the U.S. continue an economic battle under such conditions?

In days past, one country usually conquered another by sheer might and military prowess. The world doesn't work that way any more. Consider the cost in human lives in the days when Britain was expanding her empire. Although losses in the various wars of expansion have never been collectively gathered, we know that 1,089,900 British were killed during World War I, and that deaths on all sides totalled more than 10 MILLION.

In Japan's modern economic war, about 2,000 Japanese are believed to have died due to karoshi, the overwork disease. From the victors' side, that appears much more humane than the casualties incurred by western countries in earlier wars. Japan has been able to take over import trade dominance in 181 countries at considerably less cost in human lives.

Is Japan colonizing foreign shores from within, with the nation's own citizens being the most helpful factor? Ask American automobile factory workers. They prefer to work in Japanese plants, where there is greater job security. Pay is more than fair for their knowledge and geographical living area, and workers have more control over work selection and, to some extent, hours. They realize they are receiving training that will keep them in the forefront of their industry. They know their companies have deep pockets and are ploughing billions into research and development. They know next year's cars and those planned for years after are going to be even better than today. Do they like this? They own and drive the Japanese cars they make . . . by choice.

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