Education, BBM and a President

What is the relation between education, BBM (fuel) and the president of the Republic of Indonesia?

The answer are goodwill and politics. This year, education budget (for 2009) and fuel price increase are among the key decisions made by our President. While people hated the fuel price increase, now people are happy with the eduction budget increase.

However there are few people and politicians who are not convinced and skeptical about the eduction budget increase in APBN 2009. Some says that is only a political move or early campaign to pre-emp the general election in 2009.

Let me share my opinion. Every government decisions is always a political decisions. The key question is whether that decision is made for the benefit of all people in Indonesia or for just his/her political party? As long as his/her decision is for the benefit of all Indonesians, I don't care what the oppositions say.

I think it is very cowardly act for any president to deliberately delay the fuel price increase until the next general election despite the actual economics condition. It is not just he/she tries to fool people to keep voting for him/her, but also in case he/she is not re-elected, then he/she will leave a time bomb for the new president. So that when the new president later on have to increase the fuel price, his/her party can blame or discredit the new government.

Therefore, please be very careful if you hear the Oppositions discredit current government of increasing the fuel price, because this is an unfavorable condition that not only happens in Indonesia. Most rich countries in the world also increase their fuel price. I don't think the Oppositions are able to avoid the price increase as well.

This is when education plays an important role in the society. Is the ability to make up our mind and not easily fooled by politicians.