Yes, We Can!
Inspired by Ecky’s post about the American and the upcoming Indonesian election, I agree with her;
Yes, we can make a change! We can absolutely do it by choosing NOT to vote.
As the people, we have the power to do so. It’s our numbers against their needs. Those politicians think they can fool us with their soppy ads and their empty promises, when all of us know well enough that all they want is the power to govern this country and corrupt it to fuck.
I choose not to vote because I have not seen any candidate that is worthy of my vote. Not even one. Which is why I’m very passionate to not participate in the upcoming election. The more people going abstain, the more chance the government will realise that we’re not stupid and we don’t accept the way they treat us.
Let’s not vote! Well at least I won’t, until I see a candidate who:
- Doesn’t have a corrupted mind.
- Is not full of shit. Enough of all this ‘advising, reminding’ shit, we need to see actions. Most politicians when being interviewed on television and asked about their steps on increasing education, reply by going around in circles and reinstating their objections but they don’t explain about how they will achieve them. Total bullshit.
- Doesn’t try to buy people’s votes by giving away money or some crappy t-shirts. They give away money and empty promises to win your votes, just so that they can get more money later on when they have reached the positions they want, by accepting bribes, corrupting your tax and ignoring the country’s urgent problems.
- Is able to speak English correctly. And by I mean correctly is not speaking English in Tukul’s style; pronouncing “based on” as “bis on” or “face to face” as “vis tu vis”, as most government officials always do. They should freaking go and enroll in an English course or hire a native speaker as a teacher - they have the money, so there is no excuse whatsoever.
- Is educated. Goes hand in hand with being able to speak English. Even better if he or she holds an overseas degree, because the experience overseas means they should most probably have an open mind and learn the thought process of the people of a different nation. Bring home the good things that he or she has learnt overseas and apply them to his or her own country.
- Has the right balance between compassion and firm leadership. Indonesia is still a developing country that needs guidance and firm hands to steer them from the wrong directions, but also compassion and empathy from their leader to bring him or her, back to earth.
- Is aware of global warming, or even a die-hard fan of green living. He or she most probably drive a Toyota Prius or some kind to Istana Merdeka instead of some American-made fancy car that costs a lot and totally useless, to give a good example to the fellow Indonesians.
- Loves his or her national heritage and be aware that other countries have stolen about half of them already. He or she must probably make a rule or a deal for Batik to be a part of people’s everyday life. Like, wearing them everyday, not just on Fridays or Wedding events.
Perhaps my loyal and faithful reader want to add more points? Feel free to do so, peoples!
November 13th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Therry… I was thinking of writing a similar post. I would have to sit down and write what I want to hear from them though. Will get back to you.
I’ve started browsing the net but haven’t really found one presidential wannabe or a political party who deserve my vote.
Instead of abstaining, I would definitely vote next year. I’d argue that not voting will not really do anything effective for the betterment of the next government. With a large number of people abstaining, chances are the dodgy vote-buying candidate would win! Demo-crazy.
Reading your criteria, I think you would’ve fulfilled all the bullet points to run as a candidate! Go Therry! We need more women like you in the parliament!
Seriously
katadia’s last blog post..Looking for something I can believe in
November 13th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Haven’t found one that makes me says
“Yes We Can!”, It’s “Yes We Canned!” for now
Eru Sky’s last blog post..Protected: Ache
November 13th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I vote for Therry!
ecky’s last blog post..STRENGTH
November 13th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
@therrysuck:
Are you stupid or blind? You have the wrong person!!
This Therry (Theresia) is an Indonesian girl, a sweet one too.
You’re probably intending to bitchslap a male Therry, which she is not.
Go away and stop harassing her!
rima fauzi’s last blog post..10 ways to make/save money in this time of recession
November 13th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
LOL therrysucks is funny………
anywayyyyyyy……….if the young people abstain, we will be accused on not caring about our country even though is the country that doesn’t care about us.
a leader who is not corrupted is a bit unrealistic….but as long as he does his job right and things are better because of him, then…i don’t know…
November 13th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Being able to speak English flawlessly like you and study in overseas is not mandatory in my opinion. What important is the candidate must be able to speak with the language that the common people understand, and he or she must be willing to go to the provinces, villages and listen to the people problem first hand instead of receiving censored and polished reports from his/her aides. If I were to choose a Caleg (calon legislatif) to my liking, I will vote for Suster Apung whose bahasa Indonesia is even difficult to understand but her dedication to the people in the remote island made anyone who claimed they are highly educated shame for doing nothing for the country. Our country needs someone who can lead the example.
Elyani’s last blog post..Of photography, family matter and motorcycle theft
November 13th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
I can appreciate the disappointment with the current leadership. However I’m of the opinion that the right to make a choice was hard-earned and you should take the opportunity to vote if you can. It will take some time before indonesia’s democracy becomes a responsible one, but one day, hopefully, it will.
If I could vote I would be going for the candidate that I dislike the least.
Congratulations on your pet troll.
Pj
November 14th, 2008 at 3:55 am
Agree with pjbali, nobody’s perfect. At least we can vote for someone who does less harm LOL.
November 14th, 2008 at 9:48 am
able to speak english correctly, yes i agree with you Ther..
But more important is he or she can speak BAHASA INDONESIA yang baik dan benar
Indah Sitepu’s last blog post..PR (agaiinnnn????) and Award
November 14th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I heard that if you don’t vote, this would give a chance to the corrupt candidate to steal your vote and use it on his/her behalf. Is this true? Maybe Rob can explain.
In this case, I would definitely use my vote. No way that I’m going to let some thief win! It’s kinda hard to find a candidate that you really like, so just go for the one you think has potentials.
I used to be so ignorant of the country’s politics, because it the old days the people’s voice didn’t matter. But if we want to see Indonesia become a true democracy, then we need to participate - by casting our vote.
November 14th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Semua pemimpin negeri ini sama. Mengambil hati rakyat untuk kemudian melupakannya ketika naik tahta, - sibuk memperkaya diri serta sanak famili. Semua calon hanya bermotif uang, tak heran berani modal iklan gede-gedean - demi balik modal saat terima jabatan. Adakah ketulusan untuk mengabdi dan membuat rakyat sejahtera? TIDAK ADA. Mereka semua brengsek, egois, penuh tipu dan tak tau malu. Ga jawa, sunda, batak atau suku lain - ga islam atau kristen. Mereka semua tampak sama bagiku. PENIPU. Abstain atau memilih toh Jakarta tetap macet dan banjir. Lumpur lapindo tetap menyembur apalagi anggota dpr, ya tetap mesumlah. Taruhan?
November 15th, 2008 at 2:48 am
In that case, only God knows
November 16th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Golput is a perfectly valid option if there are no good, honest candidates.
Look at how well-pleased the American electorate is because they’ve just had a record poll turnout. It would be great if that happened here, but where is the Obama to inspire such activism?
It’s worth bearing in mind that he used the internet to network his message, and he intends to ensure broadband access for all within his first term of office. He’ll also, from now be giving a weekly YouTube broadcast.
Is this something for Pesta Blogger to get involved with? Enda N. reportedly had c.320 signed up for his Indonesians for Obama site, so there is an online interest in political issues ~ or was it merely a matter of association with a celebrity?.
If there is just one candidate prepared to go down that ’social’ route, one of transparency, then, Therry, you’ll find it difficult to give up your right to vote.
Thankfully, I don’t have one here.
Jakartass’s last blog post..
November 17th, 2008 at 1:16 am
pertama-tama, saya ucapken terima kasih yang sebanyak-bayaknya untuk kesempatan ini dan mohon maaf atas kegagalan bertemu vis tu vis dengan anda. did i sound like a ‘pejabat’ yet?
i just want to see somebody (and the cabinets) who’d be able to stay neutral religion-wise. got the balls to disband a group of fanatic people who, in the name of their god (what a nice god) kills left and right with no remorse. i want to see somebody with a common sense and not okaying a law (Undang Undang) steered by a majority of a certain belief. heck, why not vote for an atheist?
Diny’s last blog post..Don’t You Wish Your Boyfriend/Husband Is Perfect Like This? Dream On!
November 17th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Therry,
Don’t waste it, it is very valuable and hard won!!! By not voting you forfeit any right to complain. You really need to be engaged, then if your selected candidate fails to meet your expectations, tell them loudly and often. This is the only way things will change. It will be slow going, tough as well, but remember the harder things are the more fight required nad the greater the reward in the long run.
Please vote you someone as close as possible to what you need in a president.
You know I’m right, Hey!!
PS How do you get a Troll?
GJ’s last blog post..What’s Happening to ME??????
November 18th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Hey Therry, I kinda feel I should share this with you.
ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN
(a guide for Global Leadership)
All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sand pile at school.
These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if we all - the whole world - had cookies and milk at about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap.
Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out in the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together!
-Robert Fulghum-