Government Revises Target for Setting Targets

The government announced yesterday a downward revision of the number of arbitrary targets it aims to set this fiscal year. Instead of the initial target of 74, the new goal for target-setting is 22, a reduction of some 70%.

The reasons for this move were explained at a press conference held at the Diet. "Setting 74 targets which we have no intention of meeting would oblige us to explain a great deal of inaction," said Chief Cabinet Secretary Kenta Yura, "which would be a waste of taxpayers' money. This lower figure means there's much less action to avoid, and since this is a new target, it counts itself towards the revised goal."

Hooray! A target being met yesterday

Some political observers have reacted cynically, suggesting that the adjustment is simply a ploy to ensure that the target is met. If the goal of 22 is reached, then the government will have met its target of five consecutive years of meeting the target-setting target.