I had a meeting two weeks ago with a very nice businessman and his son. He is currently undertaking a project which his company had won few years ago but it turned out not enough money (and expertise) he could offer to really jump-start the development. We were supposed to talk about this project then somehow the lunch turned into discussion on why is it so awfully hard to build this country.
He said the problem lies on two things: lack of trust and very short-term view on life. He assured us that it was neither the President nor the VP's who are at fault, but it is the system that require reform.
The lack of trust among the ministry department, I could gauge. Yet, it bothers me that people in power do not have the long-term view of this country development. For instance, they would prefer to get re-elected in their province by opposing development that in a short term will require certain sacrifice yet in the long term would benefit their children. It is rather sickening, because people are forgetting that with power comes great responsibility.
But then it dawn to me that bureaucracy will always be there. He said, "It will take another generation to change the way people think." Well, I guess OUR generation could take the bureaucracy reform, if we are making ourselves available. Sumpah Pemuda had proven us that younger generation has the idealism, the sense of urgency, the nationalism to drive a country into a better state.
So when the torch is being transferred, I hope we are ready to build this country into a greater one.
"Ask not what your country can do to you. Ask what you can do to your country." Kennedy
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