長老たち＝政治家たちがいない方がいいのは国際的な状況？

　オーストラリアの友人と最近あったやり取りです。

　日本の状況をとても心配してくれています。
　それに対して、「悪い状況から脱したとは言えない。最悪なのは、政治家たち（特に、国レベルの）が物事を前に進めようとは思っていないこと。彼らなしの方が、物事がスムースに進むと思う」と返事を出したところ、オーストラリアの政治状況も同じだ、というメールが戻ってきました。

① I have been thinking about you and all folk in Japan who have been affected by the terrible earthquake, tsunami and the drastic situation with the nuclear power plant.
   I can't believe how much heart ache and devastation the events of the last few months have brought upon Japan and the people.
   I do hope that everyone feels supported and that they know that people around the world, and specifically Australia, are still donating to appeals and praying for a speedy recovery to normal. Although how can anything ever be the same when so many people have lost loved ones, their homes, their livelihoods etc?

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② Thanks for your very kind words.

  Yes, Japan (especially in the northern half of Honshu, the main island) is in quite terrible shape.
  But, unfortunately, the worst part is the national-level politicians. They cannot and don't seem to be interested in moving things forward. We are much better off without them.
  We are better off without them any time, but especially in this time of crisis.

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③ Your comments about your politicians match my thoughts on our current national government here in Australia.
    Thank goodness our politicians haven't had the same devastating natural and nuclear disasters to deal with. We have had terrible floods this year and awful bush fires but on a lesser scale than your dreadful events and resulting effects.