Power Politics as Investments

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By Nasrul Azwar

Economistic political culture is a culture which views political power only as an investment. What is on the minds of prospective politicians rather than idealism, but the exchange rate. A prospective politicians are willing to pay hundreds of millions of rupiah because it knew that its investment would pay off bigger. Beside that, socio-economic inequalities also create a political culture in opposition to the equality of political opportunity for the public.

Thus the symptoms continued to strengthen in this country. Trends such as the implementation of increasingly hardened local elections directly. The emergence of turmoil and protest to the level of court in any election process in Indonesia is a strong indicator for the said power and money to work in it. What's a economistic political culture, power is the investment to find its form. Listen carefully, the average implementation of elections in Indonesia are often sparked pro-contra. Always lead to the mutual claims and accusations. Instead antarpendukung clashes.

Year 2008 in the Province of Bangka Belitung event will be busy with elections. At the very least, the area that will hold a celebration this election is Pangkalpinang city, Belitung province, and Bangka. Several candidates have already registered themselves into their respective regional commissions. Subsequently, of course they will be verified in accordance with the rules.

Travel to the seat of political power, of course not work like flipping your palms. To achieve a "chair" number one, the short-term investments (at least to the period of 5 years who had taken the seat number one and two) than ever.

For a pair of political power toward presidential candidates, governors, regents, mayors, even to the villages that come to compete in an election, to be nonsense if they do not spend any money. Odds course if they do not invest. It is no secret, just before the election the candidates are willing to hire political consultants and political research institutions for courses pemenangannya. And everyone has to understand, each election can be interpreted as a seasonal business land. In fact, some institutions make the business and business surveys are permanent and professionally managed. To use the services of this institution, it is not cheap. Hundreds of millions even billions of rupiah will be sucked into them.

Looking for Snakes Axilla

So, from it all, political power, which was presented in the local elections and elections become a means of capital game haves candidates. Synonymous with imaging a large fund candidates in a broader scale. Large capital will be able to amaze and strengthen the image in the public eye. A pair of candidates seemed "terbesarkan" if able mengampanyekan himself on television, television, print top, huge billboards and billboard-quality good. And will be a great plus if a team capable of bringing success and involved teenagers and celebrities in it.

But instead, will look geeky and impress "poor" if the candidate comes with a pair of very simple and walking with small funds. This boomerang. His image becomes decreased in the public eye. Because the public we are still in the process learn to understand the politics and programs. Public still happy with the glamorous image than a concrete program. Celebrity-smelling flowers and full of sap that can still be embedding the public instant memories.

From it all, the public will feel very impressed, if a candidate regent or mayor, for example, was able to bring Maya Tukul in a campaign. Or a pair of other candidates could also bring another group of bands emerging in this country.

Invested a capital of candidates-regardless of where the source-like a business, return on capital so logical demands. Moreover when the candidate wins the election. Another consequence is the opportunity cost of corrupt behavior because such a huge political investment.

In addition to such expenditure, the contribution of funds in any one political party should be the object of limitation. As is known, the financial contribution is one of the most effective means for the candidate or group to express their political beliefs (Kompas, February 6, 2005).

In societies that are still concentrated in the economistic and political and social equality and the lack of economic power which still tend to be in the circle of capital, the so-called democratization like utopia. The actual characteristics of a democratic society, at least can be seen from the implementation process of the election or elections. When the power of capital which controls political access, information, and closed the public participation, the democratization is still considered an "instrument" to interrupt a party that called the election.

Some social and political observers assess the political power that is identical to the investment, it could not expect much will the growth of public political pastrisipasi openly. Moreover, still a possibility of the candidate outside the political parties participate in the election fight. For that also, steps can be done to reduce corrupt behavior is openly publicize the wealth of candidates, and all the public could access it. Such steps should be done as a form of public control of a candidate who has sat as a public official.

On the other hand, break down the way a candidate's track record since the nomination process up to the seat of his power, had such an impressive looking snake armpit. Bak browse vicious circle. Hence, cases of corruption in a range of difficult to trace, a mark-up in a project, for example, such as finding a needle that fell into the straw. This is a result of the process toward the stairs that power politics is thick with the pattern of investment. That is, there is capital and financial stake in it.

In addition, "political retribution" with the many investors who participate in it, allowing a new cycle again. Investors who are successful in the ring one team will collect compensation in the form of projects and positions. Candidates who have successfully sat like not slightly. Investment should reap a profit. Toil demanded compensation.

From it all, combating corruption at local government level in this country, like banging your head against the wall thickness. Vicious circle of corrupt behavior seems to have started since the selection process. Trends and polarization of political power in Indonesia from all levels seemed to be adopted for that eventuality to come to power who do not need a small investment. Meruyaknya corruption at the provincial level, district/city departments, the judiciary, police and armed forces, state-owned enterprises and also, can not be removed from power politics keterpengaruhan is investment and capital.

If followed carefully corruption cases that rolled along the last 3 years in Indonesia, the common thread that linked them was that power is an investment earlier.

Some of the node that leads to the practice of corruption, put to the Province of Bangka Belitung, Bangka, and the City Pangkalpinang, for example, can we learn from the CPC findings reported by Metro Bangka Belitung last three editions. This media is responding to the report findings on the use of CPC funds in 2006 budget year for the region mentioned above. At least, from the record that CPC, the indication toward a disproportionate use of budget and against propriety and decency, and violate the rules that apply a lot happening. Budgets seem like an ATM for the agencies and officials. Drained coffers without a clear accountability. Accountability, transparency, and the use of funds as just a comic story.

I dunno, for me all derive from the view that power is the power of political thought and capital investment. And who have financial capital and the amount was not much in this country .*