The tax-raise plan in the midst of long deflation carries the danger of wrecking the economy and thus decreasing total tax revenues. The bills before the Diet are also weak in reforming the social security system itself.
If the lawmakers who bolted from the DPJ want to form a meaningful political group, they should refrain from just shouting slogans, and present a concrete policy program that will convince people that the new party offers a realistic alternative to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's policies. Otherwise, people will regard their moves as another power game.
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