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