People's hope is but a dream

People's hope is but a dream

From Kompas

It seems that people have been "hypnotized" by the
government's promises. Although it is true that President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla have done well
to promote peace and clean governance. Unfortunately, SBY and
Kalla have not been successful in fulfilling the people's
aspirations.

The grief and sorrow the people have to endure for so long,
especially after the government raised the fuel prices, are a
clear indications of the inability of the President's economic
team to find more humane options by which the country's economy
can be better organized.

We have witnessed case after case of serious problems; avian
flu, polio, dengue, anthrax, rice imports, workers' pay,
legislators' pay, famine in Papua. Those problems should be given
more serious attention and handled in a more professional and
transparent way.

The question is: Is the government still concerned about the
people's sufferings? For the people at large, the aspirations
that they may live a decent life is but a dream.

We have heard a lot of debates, discussions and exchanges of
ideas for that matter, but such activities are not enough and
only get the people nowhere. Instead, the people need concrete
actions, true commitments and not just promises.

JOELI HARTONO
Bogor, West Java