Greed and economic turmoil

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