Why Can't SBY Sleep?

SBY got angry to his audiences who were falling asleep. He was angry because he can't sleep well. Why? Because of the price of crude oil. It continues raising and now $115/barrel, and this increase is the most influenced to SBY's governance.

Mathematically (I don't want to use 'economically), SBY should raise fuel price. But SBY doesn't want to do that, because this policy will danger the continuity of his second running phase (you know, I am talking about 2009 election). Then, he can't do anything except dreaming that crude oil price were less than $60. That's why SBY is always angry to the people that are dreaming in front of his face.

If I were the decision maker, I would have raised the price of fuel, distributed certain subsidies to the right beneficiaries. I would convene some ministers and Pertamina's board of directors and ordain to deliver what I thought. 'Do not corrupt!'. They should be capable to manage, if they couldn't, I would take other people to replace them. Done.

But hey, he can sleep well even though Lapindo's mud continues drowning more villages in Porong - Sidoarjo and his minister is enjoying the mud and bring him as the richest man in Indonesia.

Wow, I got headache and I can't sleep anymore.

Update:
There was a visitor who gives us a valuable link about what is happening in around Lapindo's mud. You can visit: http://korbanlapindo.blogspot.com and http://www.korbanlapindo.net.

Has Economic Crisis been Over?

An op-ed opinion in Koran Sindo (March 27th, 2008) written by my colleague at Bappenas, Eko Purwanto (he reposted at Lesehan Taman Suropati), is a good light for people that are thinking as Indonesia Vice President that has statement that economic crisis was over.

Eko says that by comparing per capita income and export volume in 1997, 1998 and 2007 is not enough to judge that economic crisis has gone. He shows in a good way to interpret economy data and suggests to be careful for making judgment to the data. Very good indeed and agreed.

Once upon a time in China

I have nice stories from my last traveling in China (March 22nd - 28th, 2008). First, this story is about how to make autonomy and decentralization more effective and efficient, and it can be seen in here. Second, it is about the welfare of China's workers, and the link is in here. Those stories have answered a part of my curiosity to a country that has been growing fast in a decade lately.

Ni hou...? Ups, I am sorry, I should say, "tse tse..."