Yes, I agree. But it is not as simple as that.

The majority of those workers migrates from rural areas (away from their family and all stable social structures). Many of them enter a world that is completely foreign to them.

For anyone who have left their family behind and went to work 1000km away in a different area (subsistence farming vs. factory work) would know that it is a kind of a big step (they most likely do not have the luxury of Skype their family every day). All this causes depression or stress in some workers. And lets not forget the cultural pressures that is on them (finding a wife, taking care of their parents).

I am surprised that the suicide rate is not higher.

I for one will continue to buy shit made in China - for the simple fact that the money provides employment for the poorest people (and the Chinese government doesn't use tax dollars to fund wars).

Americans have the same bias. They view their dropping bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki as doing the Japanese a favour (instead of the mass killings of civilians).

The atrocities in WW2 on the allied side was not probed at all. This caused these nations to view their place in history as saviors and defenders of justice - which would cause a shitload of other wars.

Krugman usually loses objectivity when he writes ideological pieces. It is sad that most other great Nobel Memorial Prize winners (who actually believe in free markets and small government) are not as vocal. The majority of Nobel Memorial Prize winners believe that way, btw.

Reagan sure as hell wasn't perfect, but the economy grew significantly during his term (it tacked on the size of the German economy to the US economy).

I suspect a lot of people like to bash Reagan because he was so successful, and that is against their socialist ideological world view.

No one in the internet talks about the Carter inflation and economic mismanagement.

If you want raw speed, you don't code in Matlab. Simple.

It depends. To develop for Matlab is much faster. Matlab code can be very fast if you do certain things (size matrices beforehand and vectorize all code).

I usually write the program in Matlab, try to speed it up in Matlab (vectorize, etc...) and then start writing Mex scripts to replace slow parts. I also try to get it working in Octave - for the simple reason that Matlab licenses are often limited to one per PC (instead of one per core) and it makes simulations slow.

If you are just outside your house without your ID will you be allowed to go back inside to get it?

Yes. Even if you are far, they will come with you to where your ID is and check it. It is really no problem. If you are close to your residence, it isn't really an issue (you can just walk back and show it).

If you are far away (e.g. shop) you always have your ID since it fits in your wallet (and you can't buy or use the train without your wallet).

Stupid question - do you guys carry things such as health insurance cards with you when you are out and about?

Failure to be able to present them can lead to a visit to the police station or jail.

They are usually friendly and will walk with you to your place of residence to see your passport (if you do not have it already). Any person who is in Japan for a fair amount of time already has identification that easily fits into their wallet and which they carry with them 24/7 (Identification card and national insurance card).

Some people often claim that the Japanese police's work is just to help lost tourists, check identification and operate lost goods stands. But it seems that it is working - hence the low crime rates.

That is true. I am not sure what the upheaval is about. I stay in a foreign country and carry my identification with me 24/7. First it was my VISA (in passport book) until I have been issued with an Alien Registration Card. I carry this with me at all times (not an issue - it fits in your wallet).

How the hell do people think the police will be able to remove illegal immigrants if they cannot ask to see a person's papers? I suspect that many people opposed to the implementation of illegal immigration laws actually support open borders and want their ideals to become true, not by changing the law in the legislature (as what happens in democratic countries) but by not enforcing valid laws. The back-door approach if you will.