Politics dominates economy

It is interesting to analyze the role of politics in the life of this nation during the past three decades. It is apparent that politics plays a dominant role in our country. This is evident when we make a close observation of the laws that are related to politics, namely the laws concerning elections, political organizations, the House of Representatives, regional legislative bodies, local governments and district and village administration. It can be clearly seen in these laws how the government wants to make sure that power will not and does not slip out off its hand. Security issues are mostly motivated by a political interest of the ruling class.

But now, the country is suffering from an ailing economy, proceeded by an unprecedented monetary crisis. The basic staples are becoming scarce, and the prices of basic commodities are unreasonably high, if they are available at all. These circumstances have caused the low- and middle-income classes to suffer and they cannot afford to live a decent life.

The current monetary crisis has even hit the conglomerates' businesses to the extent that they have had to close down some of their business lines. The majority of the people have become so powerless in the face of the crisis that they do not know what to do and just take up a wait-and-see attitude.

It is high time the government exercised introspection to find out where it has gone wrong and handles matters professionally by consistently practicing impartiality, doing justice to all citizens and upholding democracy in the true sense, if the economic turbulence is to be set back to normalcy.

H.W. PIENANDORO

Bogor, West Java