Too many smart people

I am a layman on political, economic and financial matters and live in a small town far away from the capital of Jakarta. I do not know what is really going on in Jakarta. Watching television these days I hardly find any comments on or analyses of political, economical and financial matters given by the numerous scholars who call themselves observers or analysts or whatever.

What I find interesting is that they say the government has never done the right thing. They always see the negative side of everything the government is doing. We often hear people say that a spectator at a football match is always smarter than the player. Please don't get me wrong. I am not saying that the government is always right. But we at least have to give the current government a chance to finish its job.

Another saying goes that the easiest job one can do is to criticize. The people may be fed up watching those smart people constantly arguing. In the meantime we are sinking deeper and deeper into all types of crises and it is the people at the grassroots level who bear the brunt of the crisis.

Once in a while, a crazy idea crosses my mind. What if those smart people are given an opportunity to lead this country just to prove that they are really smart enough and capable of solving the multidimensional crises the country is currently facing.

NYOMAN SUWELA

Singaraja, Bali