It's about 'quick fixes'<\/p>\n
I find Carl Chairul's By The Way piece last Sunday (July 12)
\nnot only amusing but right on the nose. It's truly a pity that
\nsome readers are unable to see that he does not intend to
\nridicule the idea of making sacrifices in the form of fasting to
\nhelp less-fortunate fellow countrymen. What Carl is actually
\nhighlighting -- if I may amplify it for him -- is our leaders'
\nstrong tendency to invent and enforce quick fixes that do not
\nreally address the source of the problems that we have as a
\nnation.<\/p>\n
What else could you call fasting in order to cut down on rice
\nconsumption? It's nothing but a quick fix. What is the real
\nproblem? Well, just take a look at Lombok, where the most
\nproductive rice fields on this island were converted into a lush
\ngolf course some years ago. And Lombok is just one very tiny
\nexample, you can readily find thousands of other cases where
\nfertile rice fields have been taken away from farmers and are
\nturned into golf courses and resorts. That's the real cause of
\nour current rice shortage, not because you and I eat too much
\nrice.<\/p>\n
For a long time our government leaders have always resorted to
\nthe most convenient solutions for the problems that they
\nperceive. If they need more revenues, they just raise existing
\ntaxes or impose new ones. Just think about the very recent
\nexorbitant hikes in postage stamps, the imminent jumps in
\ntelephone rates and the introduction of fuel taxes for Jakarta.
\nThese are all quick fixes! Do they really eliminate the source of
\nthe problem? We'd be lucky if these quick fixes do not result in
\neven more problems.<\/p>\n
Carl couldn't be more correct when he writes \"The bottom line,
\napparently, is efficiency\". Inefficiency is one of the biggest
\nproblems in this country, and we have seen no real effort in
\naddressing it. Take, for example, the latest suggestion to change
\nthe names of the three hospitals linked to Soeharto's
\nfoundations. Think about the need to print new letterhead and
\nforms, design new logos, create new seals, etc. These will just
\ncause more unnecessary expenses while they won't address the real
\nproblem at all.<\/p>\n
Carl, keep on writing your great pieces. Keep reminding our
\nreaders that the problems we have now are the outcome of too many
\nquick fixes that have hardly anything to do with the core of the
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
ZATNI ARBI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/its-about-quick-fixes-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }