Fuel Subsidy Makes Us Lazy

Doesn't it? Tell you guys the truth, I don't have any data or quantitative findings to prove that statement. We're gonna just look around to see that this kind of subsidy really makes us all lazy. So don't be shock, we all, including me, are the subjects here.

What is subsidy actually?

First of all, I want to quote someone's statement in an article that I found debatable! He said that the fuel need to be subsidized because the price is too expensive. The statement might seem so heroic to innocent. Instead, subsidy is implemented in a commodity if such commodity give large benefit to the society, education for instance. In the other hand, a commodity that bear so much cost for the society need to be taxed like pollution.

What about fuel, is worth to be subsidized (especially Premium and Solar)?

We can go places if we have fuel, let say by motorcycle or car, and we get to those places faster. Those are the benefits. But don't we all realize the cost? How much pollution has been produced from those fuel that we use? How many tons of carbon monoxide sucked through our lungs, that one day can cause cancer and even death? How many hours lost from jams because everyone's using cars and motorcycles? Let's think! This commodity called fuel has more COST than benefit today, so it wise to tax those fuel, instead of SUBSIDIZING those fuel.

Oh okay, good point, so what do you mean by saying that subsidy makes us lazy?

Lazy number one: fuel consumptive. Lets criticize ourselves, be honest. Your campus is a kilometer away, and we used cars or motorcycles to get there. Can we just walk or ride a cycle and save those fuel?

Lazy number two: bad timing. The campus is a kilometer away, it's 6.55 and I have a motorcycle. Bugger off, I won't be late, I'll be there in 2 minutes. And guess what we all keep waking up late everyday! Suppose we take bus or walk or cycle to get to campus, I'm sure we won't bet to get up late!

Lazy number three: motorcycle is my feet! Everytime you're hungry, you just ride on your motorcycles to buy your dinner. Even if the place is still in the same neighbour! You wanna buy cigarettes, newspapers, magazines you're reluctant to walk even if it's close to where you stay. What the hell's wrong with walking???

So, do we still need subsidy?

Yes, we do! But not in fuel! We need subsidy in education, health, and infrastructure. If we have better education, we'll be a smarter nation. If we're healthy, we can achieve things better. If we have better infrastructure, our days will run easier. These subsidies will encourage us to do our jobs everyday. Those are long term plans and goals.

For the mean time, yes, taking away fuel subsidy will hurt many people since we all have been using them in our daily consumption. So it might be wise to come up with programs to help society from this phsycological shock. These programs are intended for the short run. At the very end, our intention is to balance today and tomorrow.

Last message?

Let's be realistic, buy things that we can buy, and don't spend on things that we couldn't afford. Oil is expensive these days, so will be fuel. If we can't afford it, let walk or take the bus or cycle. At least, save our energy, then we can save our future.

This post is one of my way to make a change. Yes, a change. Change in what I do, because whether we realized it or not we are living a spoil live in Indonesia. I always try to minimize my fuel consumption, I start to use my bike again, or walk. I realize it's not gonna be an overnight solution, it will take time. But, we have to start right?

I don't want to offend anyone on this post. I felt that this is a good message and since it's good I want to take you all with me. Together we can make our Indonesia much more better, greater, and stronger. Amen.