Seatbel
Yudi Latif
Behind the tumultuous tension of the electoral campaign are two fundamental issues that undermine our political resilience. First is the weakness of our ideological vision, which should hone our rationale to zero in on the weakest link in the chain. Second is the waning sense of national brotherhood that builds mutual trust and a will to unite and share. Without the reason of statehood and the sense of nationhood, politics merely becomes a conflict of interests for short-term gains that sacrifices long-term fundamental issues.
Electoral campaigns no longer provide a contest of visions, especially on how to resolve the nation’s fundamental issues. Elites talk about unicorns and research funding, but seem clueless about how to develop science and technology in strategic ways that will encourage innovations in productive sectors. They bitterly complain about the flood of imports, but do not formulate visions to develop economic independence and national productivity. They pledge to eradicate corruption, but do not construct regulations for democratic institutions (elections) and government, which are catalysts of corruption. They talk about the threats of social disruption and divergence, but do not conceptualize political education for the future.