ESL Podcast ep. 1198 - Failed Government Projects - in Japanese

1198 - Failed Government Projects

If you think building a new sports stadium is a great way for your city to make more money, think again. This episode explains what can go wrong.

（もし、新しいスポーツスタジアムの建設はあなたの街にとってお金を作るために良い方法だとを考えた場合、再考してください。このエピソードでは、何がダメにさせるのか説明します）

本文

Mariana: How long do you think it will be before the stadium is finished?
（スタジアムが完成するまでにどれくらいかかると思う？）

Klaus: Don’t hold your breath. The plan for the stadium is fundamentally flawed, but the government rammed it down the throats of the voters.

（そんなにかからないと思うよ。スタジアムの計画は基本的に修正できないほどうまくいっていない、けど政府が決定者に実行するよう強いたよ）

Mariana: Do you really think the project is doomed?

（本当にこのプロジェクトは失敗すると思う？）

Klaus: Haven’t you heard the reports of corruption and poor management? They’re cutting corners left and right. I wouldn’t be surprised if the stadium is being built with shoddy materials.
（賄賂やひどい経営状況を聞いたことないかい？彼らはさまざまな安くて速い方法をやっているんだよ。もしスタジアムが低品質の材料で建てられていたって驚かないよ）

Mariana: Then the entire thing is a joke!

（全部冗談でしょ！）

Klaus: Yes, and the joke is on us. Government officials are going through the motions, not caring about the results. All they care about is lining their pockets.

（そうだよ、我々を馬鹿にしているんだよ。役人は公約も大して掲げず進めていて、結果は気にしていないんだよ。彼らすべては金もうけだけを気にしているんだよ）

Mariana: I have heard about the cost overruns. Do you think the city will ever recoup the money spent on this project?

（コストが超過していると聞いたことがあるわ。市はこのプロジェクトに使った費用をいつか回収すると思う？）

Klaus: Maybe a little, if we can sell the entire thing as scrap metal!

（たぶん少しだけだよ、もしスクラップの金属としてすべてを売却できればね）

今回の単語

don't hold your breath: don't expect too much to happen very soon, or don't expect this to be completed anytime soon

flawed: there is something wrong with it, it isn't going to work properly

ram it down throat of someone: to say that they have to do it and don't have any other choice even through it may look like they are saying yes to something

doomed: expected to fail

corruption: when people empower, especially in government, do thing that are dishonest or illegal

to cut corners: to not do what you are supposed to do in order to get something done quickly, or to find cheaper and faster way to do something

left and right: in many different places

shoddy: low quality

joke is on us: that someone has made us stupid

to go through the motions: to do something but not with very much commitments, to do something without trying very hard

to line one's pockets: to do something in order to make a lot of money

cost overruns: when a project costs more than you thought

to recoup the money: to get the money back

今回の英会話頻出フレーズ

I would (not) be ~, if ~: もし～だったら、～になります。

Have (not) you heard ~: ～を聞いたことはありますか？