In his Dec. 1 article, "Look at the brighter side of the financial crisis," Tom Plate writes that the world has learned more helpful lessons from Asia than from the United States about how to handle one's economy, including lessons on saving money, significant reform, strong leadership, investment in public education and treatment of the customer.

"Saving money"? I've lived in Japan for 20 years and I've seen how my wife saves money. She says Japanese save money because they don't trust the government.

"Significant reform"? That makes me think of the slogan "Yes, We Can!" Reform WHAT?

"Strong leadership"? I don't think Japanese leaders are so strong. You can tell by counting all of the prime ministers Japan has had in the last 20 years.

"Public education?" America has the best compared to what I have seen in Japan. Where are those "promising graduates" that Plate speaks of with all of their educated ideas?

And the customer is NOT God in Japan. I've tried to get satisfaction, but have been treated like an elementary school student. The powers that be don't want to listen to customers. You will get shunned if you ask "Why?"

When the economic bubble burst in Japan nearly 20 years ago, one Japanese suggested that the government forgive all debt and start over again. I put that idea to an American economist at the time and he said, "If America did that, Japan and other nations wouldn't trust it." Yet, in 2008, the American government has done it with the "lenders of lenders," and the world still goes on.

If the "We" in "Yes, We Can!" will ultimately have to pay for all of the "forgiving of debt," maybe We need lower business taxes so that We will get off our butts and start to work again. Plate is right about U.S. President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama "huddling" at the moment. We're all huddling in our own way.

howard ahner