DPJ’s Election Pledge: “We’ll Raise Taxes 15%!”

Go!! Go!! GO!!
Rozen Aso Banzai!!

I am not good at things like this, but isn't a 15% tax raise huge? Wouldn't that make your economy worse and drop faster?

where's Akumetsu when you need one. :(

Why the hell is he in the desu-chan outfit from Rozen Maiden?!!!!

I'll bet the despised otakus buying up animu paraphernalia are the only thing keeping the Japanese economy rolling.

And that, exactly, is why there will be a catastrophic collapse soon in most major governments. This man is willing to do the necessary actions to keep their government stable and he's met with bitter opposition.

In AmeriKKKa, Social Security is in jeapordy because it was raided by one administration after another, massive funds taken and replaced with IOU's. Social Security, despite their blatant lies, was never "Insoluble", since it was by definition a "Bad Investment". You would need to live to 144 to recoup your total contribution.

So much has been taken from the fund that any attempt to pay it back will result in mass riots. And the rich elite who largely profited directly from its theft have long spent the money on their yachts and mansions.

I made a proposal to return to a tribal society on the oceans not lightly. If we manage to survive and thrive, elders will have a place in society and frankly there won't be that many.

WTF!? I ain't gonna help some old people i don't know with my money.

So basically it's like 401k? I put part of my salary into that too. I am guessing the government would invest that money in mutual fund and hopefully make some money with that. But they do gain interest and maybe a small profit for the 保険料 they chipped in right? Actually a lot of countries had this system implemented, although 15% sounds very high.

Its good to see that democrats are idiots in other countries as well. Morons...

It's the same here in Spain, but with one exception: Here people continue voting the leftist, incomprehensibly.

LPD for fail.

Just bring Junichiro Koizumi-san back to the office,,,

Democratic Party of Japan is trying to convince people to think about the future of Japan by raising taxes in order to save the country from its Economical situtation.

The question is how is that going to help the people of Japan?

hey look he's got one green eye and one red. he's like something the devil rejected

There is a better way to raise taxes. This is not one of them.

Looking at Japan's current tax rates, that sounds about right.

hey! i've seen that guy so many times in Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei lol

The DPJ are a center-right party just like the LDP. It is by no stretch of the imagination leftist, despite what wikipedia tells you, unless you consider so-called 'Third Way' parties like this to be dabbling in socialism because their rhetoric sounds nice and cuddly (by this logic New Labour was socialist). This policy is merely an attempt to break some of the LDP's staunch elderly support away. The only leftist party in Japan is the JCP.

It seems that the libertarian position defending certain subcultures present in other articles is extended to the area of economic policy in articles like these. Both positions deal with the possible encroachment of the state into the private lives of individuals, but they should be considered separately. Supporting a tax rise does not mean you also want the state to stop you from reading certain manga.

Isn't Japan not allowed to have an army or navy as part of an agreement that was made after WW2? How are they having economic problems if they don't have to stupidly spend hundreds of billions of dollars yearly on an army like the USA is doing?

I'd vote for a politician who says he'll raise taxes, just because those who say they'll drop taxes are either lying or going to cut services. It'd be a refreshing change to see someone do that here too.

The problem is there is too many old people. Why don't Japan give away free Prussic Acid injections?

Well, that's definitely a way to keep the recession going in Japan.

The only way Japan can fix their pension shortfall is by loosing their tight immigration restrictions.

well, with the number of elderly that the country is responsible for there's bound to be an increase in taxes. HOWEVER, a unilateral 15% is freaking ludicrous. i can't imagine what i would do if this was happening in the US.

oh wait, yeah i can. i'd move.

no taxes is good taxes

That remembers me that Japan got tons of over 100 year olds... They are the main reason why taxes need to be increased since they always become more and more.

Where's the Friendship Party when we need it?

You'd think with as much as Japan likes American media (kinda like how they infected us awesome) that booty shakin music videos etc etc etc would make them do the nasty more >_>

It is possible that raising taxes across the board is an attempt to reverse years of inflation. Which I believe Japan in a pretty good position to start doing.

Its Central Provident Fund btw.

oh we have this in mexico, I'm glad to report it doesn't work

They need more wapanese to save them.

Sigh, elders.. Goverment should only support those elders, who gave birth to atleast 1 healthy child, everyone else - survive on your own. Becouse if there is no younglings - there is no taxes, and if no taxes - no money to support elders. They also should introduce bachelor tax, for lone childless women too.

Wow - That's all I can say.