Greed and economic turmoil

I salute Pak Soegih Arto for his recent letter published in the Dec. 30 edition of The Jakarta Post, to boost our fighting spirit. We need such reminding in order to not let ourselves become too downcast. The same with Pak Ali Wardhana's statement I read in The Jakarta Post a few weeks ago, for it reminded us that we have indeed been "Asian tigers".

We should not be too frightened over the current economic crisis. Let's just do our best to reform both our political and economic system to adjust with the times.

This is not a time to blame each other. It would only make things worse. We know that the economic situation in this country is getting worse, but we hope that our country will be able to turn back the clock to its proper direction.

Observing the crisis' extent and its possible causes, I would like to stress one thing: greed. It is this that is most likely at the root of the problem. Greed has been manifested in so many ways here: greed for power, greed for wealth, greed for economic success, greed for fame and greed for luxury.

Greed has no shame. To satisfy their greed, some people justify all means to achieve their goal. Honesty, truthfulness, justice, impartiality, democracy, non-monopolistic and non- nepotistic practices, transparency and other virtues are required for political, economic, social and cultural reformation. We must hope that the ruling elite and our law enforcing agencies will be armed with these qualities.

H.W. PIENANDORO

Bogor, West Java