After Indonesia’s independence after 70 years, we are in a doubt, whether we have fully enjoyed this independence. The reality has shown that there are some people that live in a good state in their economy, but some of them are not. Is the independence that we enjoy now bringing inequality to other people?
This makes a question to my mind. How should we understand the true meaning of independence?
According to Oxford Dictionaries, the definition of independence is “free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority.” Indonesia’s condition today has shown that money become an important instrument to control other people. It is not too controversial that money can by anything, especially in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, law, positions and other things can be bought by money. Ideally, law should treat all of our people equally without discrimination. However, the reality seems so far away to what it should be.
Is Indonesia’s condition nowadays can be seen as independent? Or it has a different interpretation and condition to all Indonesia people?
I do believe that independence should not be limited only politically, but economically. Nowadays, economic seems to be prioritized firstly than politics. We should adapt our independence in term of economic condition, since live in a good state is the right that shall be enjoyed by all people.
Based on my personal opinion, economic independence is a condition, where Indonesia can withstand by its own feet, when Indonesia’s economy in a good or worse state. In this condition, Indonesia can guarantee to all the people –not only businessman that state cares for their need. No matter Indonesia is in good and bad situation, Indonesia should manage its economic condition well in every condition.
If we look to Indonesia economic nowadays, we can see that Indonesia’s economy face great challenges from both internal and external condition.
Internally, Indonesia does not have a strong economic sector to produce goods as other big countries have. We tend to import goods and services from other country, since we does not have enough technology and human resources to create goods and service with a good quality to ourself. Not only that, Our people also have a tendency to but import products, instead of local products, based on the reason of quality. This situation has become a classic problem for our country.
Externally, Indonesia has got serious challenges from America and China’s economic policy. Since America economy is growing stronger, some of American investors choose to move their investment from Indonesia to their origin countries. Not only that, China decides to devaluate its currency, in order to increase their companies’ revenue through export. Both countries have worsened Indonesia’s economy nowadays.