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Priorities for Development
Togap Siagian
Saya percaya negara ditentukan oleh manusianya. Agar negara maju, rakyatnya yang harus dimajukan. Caranya melalui pendidikan. Berikan pendidikan yang baik dan murah buat semua orang.
Pertanyaannya adalah, bagaimana mungkin dalam keadaan negara sekarat ini ? Pemberian subsidi pemerintah hanya akan semakin menghancurkan negara. Agar bisa berjalan, pemerintahan harus efisien. Mungkin tidak ?
Hal ini kelihatannya absurd dalam keadaan sekarang. Homo homini lupus. Manusia menjadi serigala bagi sesamanya. Korupsi masih meraja lela.
Di sinilah tugas dari golongan menengah Indonesia. This middle class is defined as ppl who have better than average education and income. The average level of education in Indo is SMA. The average income is $700 something annually.
This middle class has to be the mediator between the ruler and the lower class ppl. Kenapa bukan the upper class ? Because in Indonesian ersatz-capitalistic system, those upper class people are actually cronies of the rulers. (read: The Rise of Ersatz Capitalism in South-East Asia by Kunio, Yoshihara). And the lower class has no access to voice their needs.
This middle class has the responsibilities to pressure the govt to provide better laws and regulations. These laws are needed to assure that corruptions are decresed. Also regulations that taking into account the needs of the lower class people. E.g., laws about employee dispute is still berpihak to kepentingan employers.
How then the middle class can be part of the pressure group ? Dont we already have the parliament ? Yes, but it is not sufficient. Many of the ppl sitting there have no capabilities. Do you know that some only graduated from junior high school ? That's pathetic. For me, joining a party is one way. Another way is to join one of those many lembaga swadaya masyarakat (non governmental organization). You can think of other ways. You can even do that by helping your pembantu's son to have a good education. The point is, we have to do something.
So, the middle class has to voice their concern and unite. Stop looking at differences. Islam dan Kristen sampai kiamat akan berbeda. If I keep bitching bout Islam, I'm actually no different from those fundamentalist groups. But let's start looking at our similarities. The Bible said that Christians should become the salt and light of the world. But isnt it said in Koran, "Allah menegaskan tujuan dijadikannya Nabi Muhammad SAW sebagai utusan-Nya (Rasulullah) di bumi ini adalah menjadi rahmat bagi alam semesta Wa ma arsalnaka illa rahmatan lil'alal min (Surat Al Anbiya, ayat 107)".
So let's stop looking at the differences. Let's start looking at our similarities (especially as Abrahamic religions) and do something for our country.
Damai !
January 07, 2001 4:20 PM
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