So we must brace ourselves for this global crisis. By the way, we have gotten used to this chronic economic crisis. It's like the chronic flood that happens in Jakarta, in five-year cycles. But now the flood comes nearly yearly. After the flood, the next day will be sunny!

After the crisis, another expansion will come and healthy growth will return. Mexico was hit by a crisis in 1994. The peso had to be devalued by 50 percent which led to capital outflows. Then Mexico tried to maintain parity by raising interest rates.

Likewise in Asia in 1997, many foreign investors decided to pull out of the countries affected altogether. However, the depreciation also led to a boom in exports and a later boom in output.

Crises will always come and go, like typhoons, which is bad and good news. SIDHARTTA

Jakarta

I think Minister Sri Mulyani is too optimistic because she hopes the entire state budget will go to infrastructure development, which will help Indonesian economic development stay on track. She thinks state spending also will improve and enable Indonesians to use their money to buy products originally meant for export. All this means she wants to change Indonesia's market orientation, from export to domestic sales.

But the problem is our middle-to-lower-class people, who are still the majority in Indonesia, do not have enough money to buy those products.

They still use most of their salary for food, to pay their children's school fees and health costs. Unfortunately our middle and upper classes number only a few; most of our conglomerate or rich people who owned shares in the stock market have seen the value of their stake decrease dramatically.

So it will be hard for Indonesia to keep its economic development above a level of 4 percent next year. I think 2-3 percent is good enough. MUHAMMAD JUSUF

Denpasar

The government's decision to spend Rp 120 trillion (US$10 billion) in a month is almost impossible! For example, the bureaucracy involved in auctions is usually not as simple as those "think tanks" think. And no wonder if the target Rp 120 trillion will be missed.

Facing a fundamental breakdown needs a fundamental cure (not an instant move like this). Even the government has said it will spend on an infrastructure program; moving in a hurry such as this only means operational units do not work effectively. BAS

Jakarta

You don't know that in the pedestrian sector, the economy is still running well, so I don't think the crisis will become worse as we all predicted. The most important thing is that the election of the president must take place successfully and our politics are stable. This will be good for all people. NAHRAWI Jakarta

Editorial: Safe sex, please -- Dec. 2, p. 6

Indonesia is probably the first to propose microchip implants for HIV/AIDS individuals. Very groundbreaking. Congratulations. I have a creeping feeling that this bill will pass and the public's voice will remain unheard.

If it passes, we will officially be the stupidest country in the southeast (I mean, our Human Development Index is already below war-torn Palestine, we might as well go all the way).

This microchip proposal created by the brilliant minds of legislators make the fatwas from MUI look like a joke. I read elsewhere that the microchips will be implanted into those who are "sexually aggressive".

However, the legislators have failed to define who exactly and what number of the population are "sexually aggressive". Apparently they will form a council that will collectively determine who needs to be monitored.

If these dimwits think that by monitoring, putting the infected in jail and imposing a $5,000 fine, AIDS will disappear, then we are in need of more investment in education than we think. IYUEN

Jakarta

The only solution to combat HIV/AIDS is not to promote safer sex but to discourage out-of-wedlock sex and premarital sex. Authorities should encourage those who are married to have better sex with their spouse.

If you encourage safer sex among your citizens, there is no guarantee that they won't contract HIV/AIDS because condoms are not 100 percent safe. In addition to that, it is also sinful to promote what is already sinful.

Abstinence should be encouraged among those who are not married. In this case, I see that it is the government that fails to take control of the situation. The government should also educate the young about HIV/AIDS through public education.

Yes, it is true that God would not create a problem if there wasn't any solution. And God wouldn't create AIDS if there wasn't any cure. The only cure here is to avoid adultery. KING CRIPPLER

Singapore

I liked the comment from King Crippler. Abstinence from sex until married and fidelity to your spouse in marriage is a 100 percent safe method of staying free of HIV/AIDS and other sexual infectious diseases.

But sadly, not all will abide by this doctrine, and it is to their detriment. I also agree that it's an "investment" by the government for a healthy populous to promote abstinence and/or safe sex practices. Education and morality are the best defenses against HIV/AIDS. PAUL LEWIS Jakarta

Visit Indonesia Year 2009 -- Nov. 28, p. 13

It makes me sad to see opportunities to profit from tourism being squandered. There is so much potential for sustainable travel and tourism in Indonesia which could bring much-needed income to some of the poorest inhabitants of the archipelago.

I'm glad to see an increase in marketing but, as others have said, this will come to nought unless national and local governments can take a long-term view and not be content with filling their pockets just for today.

Malaysia allocates a poor fraction of its resources for tourism as does Indonesia, yet that country is earning more in tourism revenue this year. How can this be? It isn't just clever marketing; it means providing visitors with a welcoming environment where they have lots of opportunities to spend their money on quality products and services.

We make tourists pay to come in; they face extortion by everyone from airport officials to taxi drivers, and then they find that products they can buy anywhere else in Southeast Asia are overpriced and, in the case of spirits, virtually unobtainable.

Add to that the images of convicted terrorists being treated like celebrities and the impunity with which groups like the FPI can act and it is no surprise that Visit Indonesia 2008 didn't work. Wake up and smell the coffee! DAVID

Jakarta

So is this the confirmation that the government plans to throw out the porn law, fix the ludicrous alcohol situation (and cut duty on it to bring it into line with successful tourist destinations like Malaysia and Singapore), allow imported foods, insist that police don't extort money from tourists, overhaul the VOA program which penalizes people for wanting to spend money here, and bring the airports up to a vaguely modern standard.

Because those are all reasons why people won't come here, beyond the terror threat. It's not hard but nobody seems able to work it out. Indonesia could easily achieve 20 million tourists a year, adding huge amounts to the nation's coffers, if it was smart but it seems not. ALAN

Jakarta

Oh 2008 did not work -- let's try 2009. Just proves that this country is lacking in many ways (too bad because Indonesia is a great place, although a lot of work needs to be done if they want to compete with Singapore or Malaysia). Terrorism does not help the situation: A lot of people are scared to travel in Indonesia. STEVE

Ottawa

Have a look at the new TV commercial advertising Jakarta as a tourism destination and you will see why tourism is dropping. PETER

Jakarta

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