In its manifesto for the Aug. 30 Lower House election, the Liberal Democratic Party has obviously tried to distinguish itself from the Democratic Party of Japan in some areas. But the party's priorities remain vague.

Unlike the DPJ, which clearly states what matters it will focus on in the coming four years if it takes power, the LDP is placing emphasis on longer term goals. For example, the party says it will make the nation's per capita income the highest level in the world in 10 years' time by raising each household's disposable annual income by ¥1 million, but it fails to concretely state how it will achieve this lofty goal.

Apparently trying to strike a contrast with the DPJ, whose manifesto fails to mention the possibility of raising the consumption tax to pay for growing social welfare costs, the LDP hints that it will increase the tax "without delay" once economic conditions improve. But it neither cites a specific time-table for doing nor specifies how high it will raise the tax.

Unlike the DPJ, whose foreign policy is vague and whose manifesto does not even mention Japan's fueling mission in the Indian Ocean, the LDP calls for the mission's continuation and the enactment of a permanent law for dispatching Self-Defense Forces on overseas missions. It also calls for conditionally exercising the right to collective defense, like defending U.S. ships enaged in joint operations with Japan for Japan's defense.

The LDP's manifesto mentions the creation of a society in which people feel secure about their lives and cites various measures to achieve this goal, including free education for preschool children and support for the unemployed. But the LDP has listed these measures without closely examining the retrenchment policy that has been implemented since the Koizumi administration, which has led to disruption of social welfare programs such as medical services and support for the socially weak. The LDP manifesto calls for a revision of the Constitution but fails to specify the revision content and seeks a 30 percent or greater reduction in Diet seats in 10 years but doesn't explain the purpose of such a move.

It is unfortunate that the LDP's manifesto appears to be based on platitudes rather than detailed discussions. Rather than merely cite ambitious goals, the LDP needs to tell voters what measures it will take to achieve its aims.