Why don't we learn from past mistakes
Why don't we learn from past mistakes
From Kompas
Due to the fuel price hike by more than 100 percent the common
people's life has become increasingly difficult. The prices of
all basic commodities in the provinces are going up by about 25
to 40 percent.
The fuel compensation aid is not deemed very significant. The
management of the aid distribution has been in disorder with very
poor coordination prevailing in the central and all regional
levels, not to mention in the smallest administration units such
as sub-districts and villages.
Moreover, during Ramadhan, the condition of communities is
becoming more and more disheartening. The people's burden does
not only concern provision of food but it also includes education
and health care costs.
The government's promises to communities living in remote
areas that they would enjoy free education and health care have
not been fully realized. The government seemed to be unprepared
to anticipate the affect of the price hikes on people in the low-
income bracket.
The government is apparently reluctant to learn from its past
mistakes. For example, it has not made a practical program to
conduct market operations in connection with the condition of
basic commodities, and to improve the management of
infrastructure as well as transportation facilities.
How many fishermen have stopped their activities? How many
small businesses and industries have gone bankrupt? And farmers
are on the brink of quitting their farms for more promising jobs.
All these are due to the government's incompetence.
Is it necessary for us all to tighten our belts? And for whom?
It is already a reality that the poor who number around 15,5
million families are already experiencing a miserable existence.
So there is no question of them tightening their belts any more.
Their belts are already too tight.
Actually the government should concentrate on how to help the
poor, by revising its inefficient policy. The new policy should
include efficiency in using the state budget, providing more
employment opportunities through provision of credit for small
businesses and industries; improvement in market access and
education and health services. All these programs should be
designed for medium -and long-term objectives.
SJAFRI MANGKUPRAWIRA
Bogor, West Java