Opposition refuses to discuss tax reform with DPJ; calls for election first

Ok, then go for elections and increase consumption tax from 10% to 11 %, shouganai (?)

I was hoping to continue using my 15-year-old TV for another 5 years, but it looks like I'll have to buy a new one before the end of next year, because I won't pay 8% consumption tax on that.

Do they actually have a plan that goes further than gaining power? Would seem action is needed urgently and this just coasts into the future making any changes more difficult. Nice to see them putting themselves before Japan's population and well-being.

Tanigaki has been saying the same thing since Noda took power last August. First, the LDP opposed the child allowance policy, demanding an election. Then they opposed the TPP talks, demanding an election. That was followed by opposition to the third budget. Now it is opposition to tax reform.

I used to be a big believer in democracy, but fascism is starting to look more appealing to me.

Why can't countries be run like a big corporation? With a CEO and board of directors. Why even have an opposition? Do they do any good in any country?

Tanigaki said the government has no right to propose hiking the consumption tax

When the DPJ first gained power, Tanigaki was the one most vociferously calling for the consumption tax to be raised. Now that the idea has become mainstream within the DPJ, he's against it. Obviously a man of principle, if we can say that saying no to everything is an admirable principle.

And it begins...

Putting themselves before anything else.... useless

Whatever happened to "If Kan steps down, we will cooperate". This is their idea of cooperation??!

....said the government has no right to propose hiking the consumption tax

Damn right too! I mean, how dare they propose economic reforms and discussion of social policy. Who do they think they are? The government or something?! Hey, wait a minute.....

What a farce! They remind me of a bunch of spoilt, selfish brats. Anything they don't like let's throw a tantrum and demand an election. How on earth is anything going to move forward here if the boy's club can't get their act together and compromise/cooperate on some level like mature adults?

The Japanese people....infact anybody residing here in Japan needs commonsense strong leadership.

Liberal Democratic Party leader Sadakazu Tanigaki said the government has no right to propose hiking the consumption tax

Why? They are the government after all. Of course they have every right.

and that Noda must dissolve the lower house and ask for a mandate from the people.

Umm, when they were elected they got a mandate from the people.

Selfish politicians ruining their own country for their own means.

From now on, I will call LDP of Japan "Ooooi Ocha!"; Japanese Tea Party of "No".

Again? Just how many times will these old geezers need to threaten? Aren't they themselves part of the government they are trying so hard to accuse?

Why don't they just hold the talks, then discuss there whether or not the tax should be imposed, and not doing press releases about every teeny-weeny (and most times, even ridiculous) issue they stumble upon.

Government issues and policies should be done indoors first, with the leading and opposing parties together.

Minshuto still hasn't figured out what leadership means. Why bother asking the opposition at all?

he New Komeito Party, Japan Communist Party, Sunrise Party, Your Party and Social Democratic Party

Wow, I had no clue they had so many parties. I thought they had only two.

I am sorry for Japanese people as I see what is ahead of you.

Japan is melting away and the financial tsunami is coming to Japanese shores within 3-5 years if nothing is done. This tax hike has to be done. You have NO choice! Face it.

The dictators want to regain power so that they can once again dip their greedy fingers into our pockets and take our hard-earned cash. They feel that the time is right for an election so that they can continue driving Japan down the road toward God-knows what. Japan went downhill rapidly during the final decade of LDP rule, and since then the LDP has continued dragging its feet as it refuses to help both Minshuto and the people of Japan ... especially those hit hard by the earthquake and tsunami up north of Tokyo.

If Minshuto wants to start cutting seats out of the government, it should start with those that are held by the LDP ...

What a mess ... and lets blame it directly on the stubborn LDP and New Komeito politicians ...

Whatever happened to "If Kan steps down, we will cooperate". This is their idea of cooperation??!

Exactly!!! Add to that, Tanigaki has a short memory that at 2010 election of the House of Councillors, LDP was advocating an increase in the consumption tax. The LDP began discussions on mapping out a path to achieve a consumption tax increase.The LDP insists that the reason why the party achieved a major advance in the House of Councilors election was because voters accepted the party call to increase the consumption tax rate.

http://www.japan-press.co.jp/modules/news/index.php?id=1432

Even if LDP won in the election, they would increase the tax anyway.

We need this election so we can get the LDP back in power and get Japan working again!

j4p4nFTWJan. 05, 2012 - 12:13PM JST

We need this election so we can get the LDP back in power and get Japan working again!

Please list all the reasons why LDP should be back in power for Japanese. We go from there.

Thanks for the weblink, Blair listed below. Unlike many pointless posts, you always find the solid facts. I appreciate that very much.

LDP accelerates move to increase consumption tax

They ran Japan over 50 years! Now they want 50 more?

Wow, I had no clue they had so many parties. I thought they had only two.

Yes. Left, right, center, fascist, communist,...but no libertarian ones!

The LDP should not call for elections too soon. They were the ones that refused cooperation with Kan, when it was time to forget differences in order to help the people in need. And there might still be people around who have not yet forgotten that.

Who do they think they are? The government or something?! Hey, wait a minute.....

@Nicky, the LDP still thinks they can stir Japan with a little finger like they used to do as many Japanese live in a society of political apathy.

The Japanese people....infact anybody residing here in Japan needs commonsense strong leadership

@Samantha, Japan's common sense is a world NON common sense, you know that.

Speaking about a lack of leadership in Japan, what do you expect? Japanese are raised to be a follower with no problem solving skills.. Japan values "WA" "Unity" or "KIZUNA: in Japanese society. If anyone challenges that value, they are treated as a non comformer. a black sheep or a trouble. So they go with a status quo or a flow against their will. Many corporations fail when they do not have a solid rock CEO with vision.

It's so sad when you think about the fact that unless Noda resigns before the next election it'll be him vs. Tanigaki for PM. Even if he DOES resign, who will replace him? We know Ozawa will want to run again (and threaten to leave the party again if things don't go his way), and he and ALL the other current DPJ candidates are just as useless.

Anyway, the opposition can of course refuse to agree to a tax increase simply for the sake of opposition, but refusing to even talk about it before an election (as they refused to agree to a supplementary reconstruction budget until Kan resigned, and whatever they demanded before Hatoyama resigned, etc.) is held is absolutely childish and disgusting. NO ONE wants tax increases (save government, who don't want to cut wasteful spending), but not discussing other options even is absurd.

So much for 2012!

Please list all the reasons why LDP should be back in power for Japanese.

As a business owner and job creator, I know where I stand with the LDP and I know I will be able to get projects that will let me employ people and give them raises. And when it comes time for another firm to win a bid, staff can move horizontally. Things were smooth and predictable under LDP rule. We knew we could afford to employ more people. But with the DPJ it is impossible for us to offer more jobs.

Job creator? I guess you subscribe to the make the rich richer and it will filter down philosophy? Bush tried that and the mess still is not fixed!

Better to say things were better before this clone administration I want to make money like I used too! The world has moved on I fail to see what the DPJ could have done about that.

Besides match other economies in administration, tax revenues, slashing government spending, signing free trade agreements weathering the financial crisis, using the Internet to make profit, having a balanced birth rate, in acting business governance laws, freeing up the stock market, improving the education system and having global respect from actions rather them payments...what is the difference?

If Tanigaki were to win any upcoming election, it would be a very sad day for Japan.

We knew we could afford to employ more people. But with the DPJ it is impossible for us to offer more jobs.

j4p4nFTWJan. 05, 2012 - 04:10PM JST

The bubble was busted 20 years ago. Let's face it.

LDP missed many good opportunities to avoid the bubble. How on the earth you guys had to put up with many amature Yo-yo LDP politicians (no economic understanding) is amazing. And some want Koizumi back to the politics is PATHETIC. LDP stole the future from Japanese. Hope you realize that.

Not my main area of personal interest, but this continuing unrest and choice of methods surprises me.

It tends to be that lack of communication can cause great dysfunction, and, if that dysfunction is created just to attempt reclaiming the PM position, then those who cause that dysfunction no longer serve the people so much as them selves and have consequently ceased to lead. That is not actually what is happening here, is it? This article seems to point to it though.

Have patience. If the governing party does not have the best idea, then bring up the better idea and promote it. If the governing party still will not change for the better, then it is reasonable to also seek reelections and so on. But this apparent lack of communication is just dysfunctional and does not help the governing of the Japanese people in their interests.

Also, from a casual standpoint, PM Noda's basic plan seems sound, and he is probably just hitting his stride. Has everyone forgotten the economic inroads that he has been creating with China and East India just because of the inconvenience of a tax hike to, among other points, support the elderly who have worked so hard for Japan?

After 50 years in power, the LDP cannot cope with being in opposition. Every single action they have taken in opposition is the equivalent of a 'We're not playing if we can't make up the rules', throwing-the-rattle-out-of-the-pram tantrum. Every utterance that drops from Tanigaki's lips makes it clearer that the LDP are not fit to be in the Diet, let alone in the government.

LDP stole the future from Japanese. Hope you realize that.

From the middle and lower classes, perhaps. But for high net worth individuals and job creators, they were the best and we need them back.