Indonesian Presidential elections are underway.

Barrie (political reporterBali)

Matey reading between the lines i gather that Indo politicians are basically a bunch of corrupt Barstewards ! Perhaps there is one or two with good intentions on theie agenda but as i have just stated most are in it for their own cause. Coffers to fill their own pockets and their own interests at heart rather than the reducing the growing unemployment. I mean i was watching a news clip this morning and was suprised to hear the word OIL mentioned. Swivelling round in my chair to pay more attention i was shocked to hear Indonesia has its own Oil reserves and with proper investment and chanelling of funds and use of available labour force could be a lot more wealthy or should i saya lotless poverished eh!
But with bent politicians hell bent on filling there own pockets there will be no progress till they are all weeded out and are replaced with honest individuals who have the future prosperity of INdonesia at heart rather than their own.

What daya reckon folks?

Regardez Mark

G’Day Mark,

Don’t ya just love politics!. I’ve been keeping an eye on the voting today with daily updates from Candika (my phone bill is going to be huge!). I reckon Mega babe still has a chance albeit a slim one.
Just heard that there is to be a recount on today’s voting.

There is one thing that you must remember about 3rd world countries Mark and that is that corruption will always be ‘prominent’. It’s a part of the culture.
In general, most South-East Asian countries have at one time or another had a military leader. Which brings me to the next point.
Soeharto ousted Sukarno (both military men), and then finally Soeharto got the big A and voila, instant democracy. Dream on. Now with these elections, we have two generals going up against Mega. If SBY gets in the top dog possie, then we have a military influenced leader. It would be the same with Wiranto even though he doesn’t stand a chance statistically.

Solution: Go to Bali, smile at anybody in a uniform and enjoy your trip!.

Only good thing I can say for a selfish military ruler would be that in today’s climate of religious extremism and Jemaah Islamiya a ‘Suharto’ would put a clamp on that scene faster than you could imagine.

Hey Mark,

You’re right about our politicians…maybe our people ought to outsource our government to Australian politicians..say..the Liberals for instance. They’re pretty honest right? John Howard seems to be taking Australia in the right direction. Hmmm not a bad idea.

An honest politician - is that an oxymoron? Bob, you say John Howard is one of those. If so, we can use a few more throughout the world.

An honest politician - is that an oxymoron? Bob, you say John Howard is one of those. If so, we can use a few more throughout the world.

Read between the lines Mary. John Howard cheated the Australian public on the republican referendum [most Australians want a republic], the Goods and Services Tax [he promised he wouldn't bring one in], he falsely claimed that illegal immigrants were throwing their children overboard and he was Bush’s lapdog in regard to Iraq, against the wishes of most Australians and against the advice of some of his senior advisors on the Iraq situation.

We have an election coming up soon and hopefully he will be out of a job, so if anyone wants him, well, they are welcome!

Hi Rex…I applaud you. Superbly expressed with the utmost truth. For those who don’t know, at the moment there is a ’smear campaign’ going on against the Opposition leader. I thought only American pollies did that sort of deviate shit.

And yes, it even happens in Indo!.

Ha..ha..ha..thanks Rex. I thought I had to explain it to the class.
Btw, for those of you who are interested in watching a corrupt politician making an ass of himself, don’t miss Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11. Too bad we don’t have a movie like this about Indonesian politicians.

Hi Bob…A person would have to be either totally insane or on some kind of chemical to make a political movie/doco about Indo politics in the style of Michael Moore. Geez mate, they’d be dead before production finished!.

You’re right Barrie. It’s a sad thing isn’t it? But I’m still hopeful that someday, in this land my fellow Indonesians called “Ibu Pertiwi”, a brother will be respected instead of getting killed for voicing his opinions about a government who doesn’t seems to have the best interest of its people in mind.

Hi Bob/
Bob i live in England and the
people will always moan about what the leader of the country isnt doing rather than look at the good things they are doing. I suppose that the way of the world mate…..thats one thing about politics though its a sure fire topic to have a good arguement about. I know one thing though….. and i can say that from the safety of England without being assassinated and that is its about time the Indo Politicians started putting the people of the country first as thats who there meant to be bloody serving !

Good Luck
Mark

Hi Bob…unfortunately in Indo it is the way and will always be the way until, like you expressed, a government for the people is elected. I thought Mega would have done that but it seems I’m sadly wrong.

Hey, Rex, we have plenty of that kind in the U.S. You can keep or dump him. And thanks for the lesson.

Hey, Rex, we have plenty of that kind in the U.S. You can keep or dump him. And thanks for the lesson.