In Reply to: I agree..... posted by carlos501b on Thursday, 3. February 2005 at 22:42 Bali Time:
Bali has been shafted a bit by Indonesia, but they do get some benefits in return. I think slightly more than fifty percent voted for Mega.
But I meant that the whole of Indonesia has never really had independance. They inherited a mess from the Dutch, and after thirty years of Suharto selling out the country to corporations and with all the money they owe the World Bank, and now all the favours that will will inevitably be asked in return for "aid" (not now, but in a few years when the world isn't looking -- that's why most of the "aid" is really a loan... because when they can't pay it back, the deals will be made), Indonesia will be a slave to the global economy for a long time, at least. Not much of a problem for the few at the top -- there will be talk of Indonesia's booming economy in a few years -- but those at the bottom will be doing it harder than ever, paying off more debts that they never saw any benefit from.
And what do you mean the Balinese don't know how to agitate? They know how to agitate me. They just need to go to Jakarta and shout "Hello Meester, you wan maisage?" a thousand times a day until they get what they want. Even Ghandi never thought of that one.
Cheers.