Regarding the Oct. 24 editorial "Don't squeeze welfare recipients," this is of a sort that you would have seen in the British press about 30 years ago. That does not make it wrong. But what happened in most Western countries was that the benefits bill and the fraud went on burgeoning, and eventually the public and even the media came to the view that benefits must have tough conditions and require people to seek work, otherwise benefits would need to be reduced. It would be a pity if Japan had to have the terrible welfare benefits experience of other countries before realizing what needs to be done. Kindness must be mixed with realism.

The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.

james bartholomew