Blinky Ishihara throwing Taxpayer's coffers around, Again.

[TFG]

Blinky Ishihara has paid an actor 10,000,000 to put in an appearance at motorcycle even in Miyake. This and the 100,000,000 Yen paid for the construction of a house used solely for Ishihara when he visits the Island has caused some controversy. Tis about time Blinky dropped dead.

Tokyo taxpayers coughed up a cool 10 million yen for actor Koichi Iwaki's appearance at a motorbike event on Miyake Island last November from a fund earmarked for local development assistance, it has been revealed.

A team of Metropolitan assemblymen from the Japanese Communist Party, who discovered the budget allocation, thundered: "This outrageous fee was paid for with our taxes. This isn't reconstruction assistance, this is giving top priority to events."


http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20081011p2a00m0na003000c.html

[Takechanpoo]

[Taro Toporific]

The Mainichi Daily News
..."With nearly 1,000 people visiting the island, it was a good event," a Metropolitan Bureau of General Affairs member said. "As for whether the performer's fee was extravagant or not, I can't comment."...

[Yokohammer]

The Mainichi Daily News
..."With nearly 1,000 people visiting the island, it was a good event," a Metropolitan Bureau of General Affairs member said. "As for whether the performer's fee was extravagant or not, I can't comment."...

1,000 people (or "nearly" so) eh?
Ignoring Iwaki's 10 million for a moment, the event had a budget of 290 million yen according to the Mainichi article, which works out to 290,000 yen spent on each of those visitors. And this is supposed to achieve ... what?

A motorcycle event.

I don't get it.

[Doctor Stop]

I don't get it.

You mean you didn't get your kickback?

[Yokohammer]

You mean you didn't get your kickback?

Hey, 10 million just to show up and hang out for a day? I'd be there.

But no, what I don't get (in the "comprehend" sense) is the intended purpose/benefit of spending that much on a Motorcycle event on Miyake. It was a government (read: "taxpayer") funded event. If it was privately funded I wouldn't even give it a second thought. The focus seems to be on the 10 million paid to Iwaki, but the basic purpose of the 290-million event to which he was invited and only 1,000 visitors came seems to be a bit vague. I'd be interested in knowing if anyone has a clue.

But I don't really get your "kickback" comment either, so maybe I'm just not getting stuff these days.

[bolt_krank]

Maybe he knows he's on the way out - and wants to spend as much as can while he's still in.,

[Yokohammer]

Maybe he knows he's on the way out - and wants to spend as much as can while he's still in.,

That's a possibility.

"Out of touch with reality" might have something to do with it too.

[PileOWank]

I hope Herr Ishihara becomes the next Prime Minister of this proud nation. He's just what we need in these troubled times. Then after that, each of his 100 sons can take a turn (especially the TARENTO one!!!) and the world will be an awesome place.

[Kanchou]

That's a pretty wacky bike design... never seen handlebars like that before.

And those mirrors wouldn't be worth squat... even if they were convex, you wouldn't be able to see worth a damn behind you.