Ain't no angel

Some economists, who are also commissioners in major companies, have been rallying behind SBY-Boediono. They're also die-hard defenders of the so-called Boedionomics (this is way too much of a compliment) to counter the neoliberal term labelled by SBY's opponents on Boediono. They are Chatib Basri, commissioner of Indika Energy, and Raden Pardede, commissioner of Bank Central Asia (BCA) controlled by Djarum Group. Chatib is also special staff for finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, while Pardede was deputy president director of the state-owned PT Perusahaan Pengelola Aset (PPA). 

We're not going to enter into the debate of the neoliberal label or the Boedionomics. We care more about Boediono's track record, including his recent job as central bank governor. During his relatively short tenure we have confronted with Bank Century scandal which cost the State about Rp6.2 trillion. In his period we also watched the Tripanca Bank scandal in Lampung where the owner managed to embezzle over Rp2.7 trillion of funds.

For sure, nobody at the central bank held for accountability in the scandals. Just like how billions of USD injected to bailout the state-banks in late 90s and early 2000s. We haven't heard how Boediono as the governor of central bank took actions when it comes to central bank officers who supposedly supervise the banks. This is important for public to know how decisive he would be as VP when it comes to people around him.

We have to admit that Boediono is a cool, simple, and smart (although we don't agree with SBY-Boediono's spokesperson Rizal Mallarangeng who claimed Boediono is lot smarter than Kwik Kian Gie). But public need to know that Boediono ain't no angel as portrayed by some of his supporters. He also committed wrongdoings, and at certain point played his part in the costly banking recapitalization program in late 90s.

As for SBY-Boediono economists, they spent so much time to criticize the double digit economic growth target tipped by Megawati-Prabowo. Most of them called the double-digit growth target unrealistic. The term "unrealistic" is clearly not a good news for those expecting Boediono, who is an economist, could boost the growth. We initially thought with Boediono as VP he could take the country to a new and sustainable double-digit growth. Why not? Some countries managed to achieve that. Why can't we? Doubts for something ambitious and high target is a mental block in itself for higher growth.

The doubts on double digit growth is more of a mental problem which has proven the main reason why Indonesia collected few gold medals in Olympics. Because when someone said "I could make it 8 seconds for 100 meters", Indonesians would say..."that's unrealistic. We can make it 12 seconds..." only to see athlete from other countries broke 7.9 seconds record. 

Pardede said there is no people's economy. Only two school of thoughts...marxism and liberalism...Indonesia is in between...Well, this is just textbook thinking. Let's just define people's economy as an economic model that could ensure the State delivers all its promises under the Constitution...For example, one of the 1945 Constitution dictates...the poor and neglected children should be taken care by the State." We shall think seriously how we draft policies to make sure that the State takes care the poor and neglected kids. For example, we have to raise income tax for the haves. We have to identify whether they pay their taxes properly. Shall we build more sheltering homes for the poor? Shall we provide blankets? Shall we give scholarships for the neglected kids? For how long?

So, instead of spending so much energy in debating who's neoliberal, socialists, or marxists, try to find the best possible answer to those questions. Because SBY, Boediono, Kalla, Wiranto, Megawati, and Prabowo are not angels.

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