1 MEI 2014 which then became a large space with lots of glass lined along the street, reflecting awareness of many products privatization of university graduates, the labor and poverty. Many students and those who graduated from a prestigious university-university nyinyir capital and tend to upset the actions of workers in commemorating May Day or labor day international.
In essence, 'the educated' are pursuing higher education and who has a degree that is not willing, if the workers have a lifestyle that 'luxury' as they are and instead give thanks to the basic needs / primary, even though they (the workers) are appropriately live in poverty because workers only and not graduate high school graduates S1 or D3.
I was reminded of a moment in the past when one of my professors, teaching courses in Latin American politics, ask a question to all participants of the course in the class 'What is the cause of poverty?' Many were silent, until one of my friends pointed her finger and then answer with enough then fantasize and (unfortunately) too loud 'they are poor because they are lazy, Mas.' Lecturer I instantly elevate the intonation and say 'Try day you wake up at 2 am and go directly to the traditional markets, yes. Can the market or the other week. See the poor porters who live in the halls of the market there has been shouldering a lot of vegetables for miles on the clock that much, just when most people are still fast asleep. They were lazy, right!'
The debate over the definition of poverty, the measurements, its causes and efforts to resolve the problem of poverty, no doubt is one of the most enduring debates of all time. The more so in Indonesia, where poverty is often regarded as the result of the actions of individuals, individuals who are lazy, do not have the entrepreneurial spirit, and not at all far from the problems that are more structural. The question is, what is the importance of talking about poverty? Would not it be very relative poverty? Depending on the capabilities of individuals appreciate what has been given him? Instead it has sunatullah or already there should be no rich and poor? Books written by David Macarov is pretty well mapped out a variety of questions and arguments that might be imagined in the minds of audiences when they hear the word poverty.
What Is Poverty?
Poverty is a problem, maybe everyone could agree. It's just like what the problems were and from the standpoint / perspective as to what, would be very different and diverse. At this point, the definition of poverty can be seen significance. Defining poverty may be the beginning of the door to help us analyze the various questions that accompany poverty: what is the cause of poverty, as well as the position and our input to the problems of poverty.
The debate over the definition of poverty is almost certainly always happen all the time. Traces of poverty itself can already be recognized since thousands of years ago were marked with the relics of various religions in tackling poverty. Like for example the concept of charity in Islam is to 'answer' is best known in addressing the problem of poverty. However, what is meant by poverty, which is still much debated definition. In the book 'What does the Market to People: Privatization, Globalization, and Poverty', the Macarov identified that there are some growing public opinion about the definition of poverty.
In this case, the definition of poverty is often defined a depiction of the state government through what is known as the 'poverty line'. The depiction of the 'poverty line' was likely different and not the same in every country. According Macarov, this difference is very dependent on the destination country establish a 'poverty line' itself. Macarov explained that some countries define 'poverty line' by using measurements of absolute poverty, which is based on income and assets owned by a citizen. Meanwhile, there are also countries that set a 'poverty line' based measurements are relative.
Macarov critiques of the various methods of determination 'poverty line' which is widely practiced in many countries in the world. Determination of 'poverty line' which is based on the average minimum income can be achieved by every citizen per month without regard to other things, it is problematic. In this case, those who fall into the category of people who are above the 'poverty line', although only by a very slight difference, can not be categorized as poor. In addition, the determination of 'poverty line' which is based on the average income of the lowest and highest also had problems. Measurement is problematic because the gap / large gap between the lowest and highest income not calculated.
So, what are the implications of the establishment of 'poverty line' is? In addition to implications for public policies set by the government, the establishment 'poverty line' is also a bit much to influence public opinion or common sense about poverty. Even so, there are some points of agreement in defining poverty. Namely the extent to which people can access a wide range of needs that are basic needs, including education, health, and a decent house, then it can not be said to live in poverty.
The notion that poverty is very relative and depends on each individual are also widely grown. It's just that, an opinion on this matter has many shortcomings. This opinion can make countries ignore their obligation to meet all the needs of its citizens. Macarov in this book does not say which opinion is more reasonable or stated unequivocally that position. However, more Macarov emphasize the definition of poverty in structural poverty. Macarov structural poverty is defined as the poverty caused by the economic system that developed in a country which then causes the poverty of its citizens.
In addition to the various definitions of poverty, there is disclosed Macarov in this book, namely the impact or implications that result from poverty. In addition to starvation, according Macarov, prostitution, violence, and environmental degradation into several other impacts caused by poverty. According Macarov, environmental damage occurs, for example caused by those living in poverty are forced to burn the forest or taking fish in the river and hunt animals in the forest without regard to the sustainability of the environment for their survival. In fact, Macarov agrees Indira Gandhi's famous statement that states that poverty is the greatest polluter.
I myself do not agree with the opinion of the Macarov. Prostitution and violence will always be there for capital still want it. Although the poverty rate is reduced, those two things will always be there as far as capitalism is still a main foundation of society. As revealed by Beatrix Campbell, that are intertwined with patriarchal capitalism will always produce erotic capital that allows the flourishing of prostitution and kekerasan.Moreover, in my opinion, poverty can not be expressed as the greatest polluter as well as saying that they were poor as the greatest polluter. The fact that many poor people living in slums is not inevitable. However, referring to them as the greatest polluter I think it is too hasty. Moreover, the resulting environmental damage of capitalism, which produced the owners of capital (the mine operators, entrepreneurs wood and paper, etc.), of course, much larger and more powerful!
What Causes Poverty?
In this book, Macarov explained very well the various public opinion or "common sense" that developed around the debate on the causes of poverty. Macarov stated that many opinions stating that the problem of poverty caused by the problems / issues that exist in the personal man. Poverty is caused by the human individual mentally lazy, who do not have the motivation to fight with a decent living and so on. Thus, the solution is always placed on how the human change. I wonder if he was not so lazy, and so on. Poverty is often associated with an individual's mental problems containing presupposition problem for humans as individuals who have the ability to make choices is not always able to be released to do with politics surrounding social structure.
The issue of poverty is often associated with an individual's mental problems, have been tested and proven to be true by Macarov try. In the early part of this book, Macarov recounts in proving that opinion on individual poverty due to mental problems (lazy, unmotivated, and so on) is not true. In a class courses that he teaches at a university, Macarov told that they observed students on poverty. The students were allowed to live only by the amount of money on the existing poverty line. They were then asked to write down what they eat by using a little of the money, what they do and what they feel in such conditions.
As a result, most students Macarov revealed that that they feel lazy, no motivation in life, wants to commit a crime or criminal action arising out of or due to their poverty conditions. Some of the students even told me that want to end their lives and commit suicide to end the miserable life. The results of these observations and then break the argument about individual laziness as the cause of poverty. Instead, individual laziness, lack of motivation in life, and the desire to do evil, it is the result of poverty!
Another opinion is that a lot of growing in the opinion about the cause of poverty is that poverty is caused by things that are more structural. Macarov divide this argument into a few things that were related to minority groups as the most vulnerable and many are in poverty. In this case, poverty in minority groups that are often caused discrimination upon them. Minority groups often find discrimination in a variety of ways including in economic terms. This is causing a lot of minority groups into those who live in poverty due to the denial of their access to the economy. In addition, too much poverty is caused by sexism. Impoverishment of women often occurs as a result of more women get a lot of obstacles in a variety of ways including in economic terms. Related to this, women often experience greater poverty than men. For example, in many places, women who work with the same workload as man earn less than man.
Finally, Macarov mentioned that structural causes of poverty is not another course laizess faire capitalist economic system in which a small group of people ruled supreme over access and a wide range of economic assets compared to most others.
Globalization and Privatization as a Cause of Poverty
In this book, the focus of structural poverty Macarov. Related to this, Macarov identified that children, the elderly, those who are not working / unemployed, the working poor, to be the ones most structurally impoverished. The structural causes of poverty eknonomi system based on market economy system used as the main focus of attention or Macarov. It is much the largest share of his writings, especially regarding globalization as a consequence of the neoliberal economic system almost can no longer be avoided by most countries in the world. By making the market as an economic engine makes all should be based on such measures. Inseparable consequences of such neoliberal globalization is privatization. Privatization is an inseparable characteristic of neoliberalism is intertwined with globalization. Privatization is often also referred to the sale of state assets is a process of transfer of ownership of public ownership (state) ownership to private / corporate. In this case, the writing Revrisond Baswir entitled 'Privatization: Economic Model Sues IMF Neoliberalism', can be seen that privatization is intended to rearrange the structure of the economy of a country for smooth neo-liberal agenda in internasional.
Macarov argued that privatizing the state usually with a variety of reasons. Macarov identifies that there are at least eight reasons that are commonly used in many countries to privatize. In this case, the flexibility of the labor market and cuts in spending in the name of efficiency to be the most commonly used excuse in the country to launch privatization. In addition, the lack of confidence in the government is also often the reason behind privatization. The complexity of the bureaucratic procedures became another reason that is often used to justify privatization. Only, resulting from privatization for various reasons have remained the same, ie, an increase in the number of contract workers and outsourcing, inefficiency and even corruption. According Macarov, privatization always go hand in hand with the widespread corruption in various countries, particularly in countries that catergories as the 'transitional' which divert public services belong privat. Therefore, globalization, according Macarov, resulting in a lack of accountability, low levels of salary / wages decline, corruption and increasing inequality.
Addition occurs in the corporate / private firms, privatization also occur in sectors relevant to the needs of many people, such as health care, education, and other things that become important components of people's welfare such as housing, etc. In this book , Macarov is much more to explain what is happening in European countries and America. However, the practice of privatization in the name of efficiency is also a lot going on in Indonesia. The privatization of the State Electricity Company (PLN) Electricity satunya. obvious one concerns the interest of the people were (public sector) were privatized in the name of efficiency. As a result, systems outsourcing is now a major work system in PLN today.
In addition to electricity, other public sectors such as health and education were privatized. In Indonesia, the privatization of higher education is characterized by the appearance of the Law of State Owned Legal Entity (BHMN Act) in the early 2000s higher education privatization scheme is then continued with the release of the Draft Law Legal Education (Bill BHP) which is then passed into Act on December 17, 2008, BHP Law is a scenario the World Bank / World Bank clearly stated in the document Indonesia Managing Higher Education for Relevance and Efficiency (IMHERE) . Although BHP Law are legally canceled by the Constitutional Court (MK) on March 30, 2010, the privatization of higher education was continued and the poor continue to impede access to higher education.
In 2011, Parliament issued a draft Law on Higher Education (PT bill) which have similar contents with BHP Law. Except this time the privatization of education wrapped in another name which is soft, the "autonomy". The bill was then passed PT became law on July 13, 2012 anti social movement with the privatization of education were then returned to a judicial review of the Company Law. Unfortunately, this time the Court does not grant the demands cancellation of Company Law and thus legalize the privatization of higher education since 29 April 2014.
(So What?) Poverty Solutions
In this book, Macarov did show position in which he argues neoliberal globalization is a major cause of poverty and structural poverty is created. However, in my opinion, in general solutions offered Macarov (to overcome poverty and the resulting problems of globalization and privatization) in this book is not so enchanting. Solutions are expressed Macarov, in my opinion, tend to be reformist rather than revolutionary, such as subsidies, credit facilities for micro businesses, and an increase in taxes for the rich. The solutions, in my opinion, it is not sufficient, if we really want to order the establishment of an equal society, and freed from the impoverishment and poverty itself.
In this book, Macarov looks not propose a solution that offers structural changes. I myself found because of poverty created by neo-liberal globalization are structural, then the solution to overcome the problems of poverty also needs to be placed on the structural dimension also. Changes in the economic mode of capitalism in the face of neoliberal globalization that took place today into a socialist economy mode, in my opinion, should be pursued. In addition, control of public assets in private can only be stopped through political power structure that is filled by those who do not agree to capitalism. Along the way, of course, all the efforts to change the structure of the political economy of capitalism that impoverishes the majority of these people will not take place with the "safe". However, capitalism in the face of neoliberal globalization will continue to persist as long as there is no attempt to change it and thus, it was also poverty will never be terminated. ***
