Basis of development

The polemics in the discourse on democracy and its ramifications, as published in the mass media (Kompas, Oct. 7, Oct. 8 and Oct. 10), surely give food for thought as to why Indonesia, 50 years after its entry into the United Nations, persists -- oddly enough -- in being plagued by a myriad of fundamental issues aside from conceptual interpretations of democracy, including nationalism, rampant graft, frivolous law enforcement, low quality of education, high rate of unemployment and poverty, while other nations that entered the UN after Indonesia (such as Malaysia, and even Japan and South Korea) are already basking in the light of their respective countries' prosperity.

Keeping in mind the economic development of China, it is too far-fetched to cite the case of that country as reference, as it has reached the lofty status of an economic giant by now and as such, will sooner or later aim for membership in the G-8 -- the exclusive club of the world's richest nations.

There is one striking goal, as far as economic reform is concerned, that China has maintained conspicuously over the past 20 years (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 15). During these two decades, 11 years was devoted to technological development toward its manned space program, which resulted in the successful launch of the Shenzhov V on Oct. 15. Thus, China could take pride in becoming the third country to send a man into space (Post, Sept. 15, Oct. 16 and Oct. 18).

Now, if China was notorious for corruption, particularly in the 1980s, but now, in entering the first few years of the third millennium, has succeeded in becoming an economic giant, this means that country has successfully combated and wiped out the perilous evil of corruption.

Meanwhile, South Korea has also turned into an economic power house. In light of the above reference to the successful achievements made by China and South Korea, followed by Thailand and Malaysia, now the question arises in retrospect -- why does Indonesia lag so far behind?

It is upon the strength of a nation's economy that countries build, not via a delusive reliance on the rhetoric of ideological assumptions.

China's lesson teaches us that it is the force of pragmatism, not abstract speculations, that helps spur the nation to thrive in its development.

S. SUHAEDI Jakarta