"The Democratic Party manifesto, aiming for a large government in policy while seeking a small government fiscally, is demagogy," LDP President Tanigaki Sadakazu declared forcefully. This was one scene at a lecture hosted by the Asia Research Council (secretariat inside Palaceside Building) at the Imperial Hotel.
"At the start of the change of government, the DPJ's child allowance and Futenma policies amounted to nothing. Yet under the Noda administration, recognizing the need for fiscal backing and proposing a consumption tax increase was not wrong," he said, offering encouragement. Yet he also declared with a trembling voice, "On 'integrated reform of social security and taxes,' where we differ fundamentally is their push for a public-assistance system that immediately pours in blood taxes rather than self-help."
"Prime Minister Noda's footing is liquefying as he cannot even manage in-party pre-screening of the consumption tax bill. He should settle accounts"—pressing for dissolution and a general election.
Recent politics tempts one to quip that liquefaction is not only under Noda's feet. Still, as Tanigaki says, should we not firmly establish rules for "change of government"? Regime change will become everyday fare.