Mixed Economics

PEMILIHAN UMUM tinggal sebentar lagi. Persaingan antar partai politik (parpol) kian memuncak. Bidang ekonomi misalnya, persaingan itu telah mengkerucut menjadi tiga kutub: pro ekonomi pasar (market economics), pro ekonomi kerakyatan (peoples’ economic), dan ekonomi campuran (mixed economics).

Kubu market economics atau yang sering disebut neo-liberalisme diusung oleh Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Dalam gerbong ini ada sejumlah ekonom seperti Sri Mulyani, Chatib Basri yang terkenal sangat setia menjalankan Washington Consensus. Sedangkan kubu peoples’ economic diusung Prabowo Subianto dan ekonom Rizal Ramli. Dan kubu yang terakhir yaitu mixed economics, digagas orang-orang dari luar partai politik. Kolomnis Bersihar Lubis ada di kelompok ke tiga ini.

Sebagai alternatif dari dua kutub pertama, Bersihar menawarkan jalan tengah. Menurut Lubis, menolak kapitalisme jelas sulit. “ … karena Indonesia tidak bisa berdiri sendiri dalam perekonomian dunia,” kata Lubis. Setali tiga uang dengan pemikiran Moh. Sadli yang menawarkan Ekonomi Pancasila, Lubis menawarkan ekonomi campuran (mixed economics). “Gagasan itulah yang tercetus dalam Kongres I PSI pada 1952. PSI yang dipimpin Sjahrir menerima arus modal asing maupun kapitalisme liberal, tetapi harus dikontrol oleh negara dan parlemen…,” tulis Lubis dipenghujung artikelnya, “Terima Kasih, Sjahrir” (Harian Medan Bisnis, 6/3/09).

Bagi saya, mixed economics yang ditawarkan Bersihar menarik untuk di diskusikan lebih lanjut. Setidaknya ada dua pertanyaan yang menarik untuk ditemukan jawabannya: pertama, akankah kapitalisme bersedia dikontrol oleh negara dan parlemen? kedua, mampukah negara dan parlemen mengontrol kapitalisme?

Control Capitalism (?)

Notes for Bersihar Lubis

BERSIHAR LUBIS, Indonesian top journalist, wrote an article with entitle,” Terima Kasih, Sjahrir” (Harian Medan Bisnis, 6/3/2009). His wrote its article for the 100th of Sjahrir inauguration days. During Sjahrir’s life, his had known as a thinker cum politician cum strength’s fighter. Together with another Trio’s Minang such as Tan Malaka and Moh. Hatta, Sjahrir’s popular as a legend in the beginning of Indonesian independence histories.

Lubis’ article appeared when a competitions among political parties going to the top. On economic as example, competitions were creating two groups: pro market economic versus pro peoples economic. On Lubis article, it had recognize as : first, anti neo-liberalism, which promoted by Prabowo Subianto and Rizal Ramli, second, the old ways groups (neo-liberalism), which is protected by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The alternative from those groups, Lubis proposing a middle way. According to Lubis, rejected capitalism is impossible.”…Because Indonesian can not standing alone on world’s economic,” Lubis said.

It is in line with an idea that ever proposed by Mohammad Sadli in Pancasila’s Economic at New Order regime. Lubis proposing also: mixed economic.” Thats ideas appear at the first national congress of PSI at 1952. PSI which leading by Sjahrir accepting foreign capital or liberal capitalism, but its must took under control by government and parliament. Thank you, Bung Sjahrir,” Lubis’ added in the end of his article.

At my perspective, at least it’s made propose two questions: first, whether capitalism would be prepared to be controlled by government and parliament? Second, what they can do that?