Housewives' plight

Housewives' plight

From Media Indonesia

The impact of the economic crisis on all sectors worries us,
mothers, to a high degree when we think of work possibilities for
our children.

The medical profession is no longer attractive due to the very
high prices of medicine. A job in the technical field brings a
great risk of unemployment due to the closing of projects. The
farmers are not productive because apparently fertilizers cannot
be imported anymore. Chances for bank jobs have become slimmer.

However, watching the General Session of the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) for 12 days in early March seems to
give us some hope that however difficult the situation is, there
are still jobs that are not susceptible to the monetary crisis.

The display of the session on TV awakened our admiration when
we were shown the luxurious assembly hall, the captivating
appearance of MPR members, their bright and optimistic faces and
the facilities provided for the session. All seemed not to have
been touched by the suffering and the voices of society.
Everything was in order, without any conflict because decisions
had been made previously. It was clearly different from high
school students' brawls in the streets or the atmosphere of lay
offs in companies.

We are preparing our children for their future, which must be
better than ours. We need to know from the respected ladies and
gentlemen of the MPR how they got their venerable jobs. What
stages were needed to become members? By way of a formal
education (S1, S2 and S3), or an active involvement in a
political or social organization? Or what other things so we need
to know?

Respected MPR members, please enlighten us as what to do and
what path to follow in order to end our confusion.

JOY MANGOWAL,

NANI NUKMAN

Jakarta