In a policy address before the Diet on Wednesday, Prime Minister Taro Aso, as expected, gave priority to helping the nation tide over the current economic crisis. Correctly observing that all of the world is simultaneously entering an unprecedented recession and that Japan cannot escape it, he noted that what people want from politicians is protection "against the tsunami of the financial crisis."

Mr. Aso made it Japan's goal to be the first country to get out of the economic downturn: "If the opposition forces have good ideas, we have much to discuss. But we cannot afford to unnecessarily hold off decisions." The problem is that Mr. Aso himself lost precious time last fall when he decided not to submit a second supplementary budget for fiscal 2008 — part of the government's economic-stimulus measures — to the Diet during the session that ended in December.

His stubborn insistence on handing out ¥2 trillion in cash to all households is inviting strong resistance from opposition forces, which could delay the passage of bills necessary to implement the budget. According to a recent Kyodo News poll, more than 70 percent of those surveyed also are against the plan, whose economic effects are deemed dubious. So, without a change of attitude on his part, Mr. Aso's call for quick decisions sounds hollow.