Civil  Servants

キョウダイセブン

　The license renewal situation in the Showa era. There's a line at the counter.

"It's inconvenient that I can only renew my license at the prefectural office.

"I'm in the northern part of Mie Prefecture, so it takes me two hours to get here.

"I had to take a day off work to come too.

　At noon, the window curtains were closed.

"What? Is it lunchtime? Come on, open up.

　Inabe City's income tax payment office.

"Mr. Takagi, you'll start your business this year, right?"

"This year's income tax will be 400,000 yen, so please pay it."

"What? I don't have that kind of money since I started my business this year.

"With this amount of money, I'm sure you'll receive a notice for next year's tax payment.

　A few days later, Takagi is talking with a friend.

"You're an idiot. You should consult a tax accountant.

"A tax accountant can't do his job if he can't save money on taxes.

"What's that? The tax man knew that, didn't he?

"You know, they don't care if they can get a penny more out of you.

"So, for 17 years, I've been the only one paying property tax on my late father's land and house.”

"My younger sister settled the tax on my behalf.”

"That's because my older sister promised to pay the property tax.”

"The city office can unilaterally decide which of the heirs will pay the tax.”

"Isn't that strange? Isn't that strange? Then you won't be able to change the name of the house, and the vacant house will fall down and decay.”

"The city office's job is to take what they can get.”

"I... I understand. But I'm not convinced.”

　I was teaching a class to high school students at my cram school.

"Sir, how do you say civil servant in English?”

"Yes, it is. Article 15, Section 2 of the Constitution says, "All public servants shall be servants of the whole and not of the several.”

"But my father said, "Public servants are just like robots. But my father was upset because he said, "Civil servants are like robots, they are totally inflexible.”

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