Lawmakers or troublemakers?<\/p>\n
Although the legislature is 56 years old today, this nation
\nhas held only two democratic general elections, in 1955 and 1999.
\nThe era between 1959 and 1998 was the long, dark years of
\nauthoritarian rule under presidents Sukarno and Soeharto, who
\nboth turned all democratic values upside down.<\/p>\n
So, history has given us very little experience in the
\napplication of democracy. And, sadly, the two elections failed to
\nproduce a dominant political party or a proper relationship
\nbetween the representatives and their constituents. Until now we
\nstill hear the public saying that they do not know who their
\nrepresentatives are in the House of Representatives. If they
\nencounter a problem in the community these people increasingly
\ntake to the streets to get their message across or register their
\ncomplaints with any faction in the House.<\/p>\n
History has also recorded how much time we have wasted on
\npampering despots. Sukarno dissolved a democratic parliament but
\nrefused to hold a general election. Soeharto maintained a rubber-
\nstamp legislature comprised of hand-picked legislators before he
\nstarted his series of dirty general elections.<\/p>\n
All drafts of new laws were sponsored by Soeharto's regime.
\nHis political machine, the Golkar Party, did not have to busy
\nitself with the job, while the only two political opposition
\nparties allowed to exist, the United Development Party (PPP) and
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), did not have to consider
\nthe matter because their ideas would be killed before they were
\nconceived.<\/p>\n
A positive change occurred between June 1998 and January 2001.
\nWhile B. J. Habibie, Soeharto's successor, also sponsored many
\nbills, the House passed 69 bills into law.<\/p>\n
Now, with political stability more promising and the new
\ngovernment enjoying the support of the legislature instead of
\nattracting resistance and antagonism, the House is challenged
\nwith relinquishing its recent habits. The House's continued
\ninaction will be anathema to the struggle for reform and continue
\nto bog down every activity within and outside the government.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lawmakers-or-troublemakers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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