‘Sro(m)botan’ (Balinese Mixed Vegetable)
There has been a question during local election: who cheats who?
Do you think that the politicians lie to the people? Or do the people cheat the politicians?
“All I’m sure is: the politicians talk a lot of bullshit, promising this and that. They talk like the God Indra: they think that they can change the world in one night,” says I Made Apatis Celengis (I Made Very Apathetic).
“It’s local election fever in the village at the moment, not to mention in the palm toddy warung. No matter how heavy it rains, they are always excited to watch the debates among the candidates on television. They don’t need to worry about getting wet due to rain water splash as two giant billboards have been installed in front of the warung. It seems that the pictures of the ‘handsome’ candidates are able to scare the rain away’.
“Talking about promises: it seems that there will be no poor people in this world; they promise that if they are elected they can create welfare for the people, security is guaranteed, and no more natural disasters. Everybody smiles because of happiness,” adds I Made.
As a matter of fact, even when Yudistira was once a king of Astina, that kind of situation never really existed, not to mention the behaviour of many current politicians; “Yudistira face” (good-looking) but “Dursasana” character (evil heart).
“You are right, Dé, the politicians today are very good at acting like movie stars. If culture becomes an issue then they start to talk about culture, and claim that they are culture-lovers. If agriculture is the issue, they will talk about it and make programs that they claim are the best. As a matter of fact, they have never been to the rice-fields, so, how can they talk about agriculture?” I Wayan Praktis Kritis (I Wayan Practical and Critical) agrees with I Made’s opinion.
All of them have the same programs: It’s just like making ‘srombotan’ (mixed Balinese vegetable), taking a little bit of this, taking a little bit of that.
The results are the same. The people are bored with the politicians.
In addition, all of them indulge in money politics: All kinds of village associations are offered money, from village association (banjar), irrigation association (subak), youth association (sekeha teruna), ladies association, to cooperative association ― from the young to the old.
This situation makes a negative on the people’s mentality.
“They might not know that Balinese are not good at dealing with money: You know, even when they do not really have enough funds, they want to renovate their meeting hall (bale banjar) to be a two storey one. When they get money, they may demolish anything; they may even pave the cemetery.
Promises made by politicians have spoiled the mentality of the people. In future, they may ask the government for money for a facial, or a salon car, etc.
“Wait a minute, why do you blame the politicians. Aren’t we the one who often cheat them? Don’t we always get ‘blind’ when we are given money, and always want to be co-opted?” asks I Ketut Towal Towel. (I Ketut A Little of This A Little of That).
“Two days ago I saw Bli Madé come to the Regent’s office bringing a proposal for financial assistance and he promised to the incumbent candidate that he will mobilize people to vote the candidate. But just yesterday, I saw him visit the other candidate. He asked the candidate for billboards, T-shirts, money for meals and campaign operational costs. What happens, Bli (brother)? Why are you so greedy?” asks Ketut.
All the palm toddy association members laugh. I Made tries to be calm. Just this morning he also brought a proposal to the municipal office on behalf of Sekehe Ceki (Chinese Card Gambling Association). He wants to arrange a ‘Chinese Card Gambling Festival’. He has indeed made up a proposal: He thinks that if the proposal is approved, he can afford a Vario.
“Don’t always blame other people, brother. If all of us here are clean, why do we all wear T-shirts given by different candidates?
All the palm toddy members laugh. They can understand that during the election season one may use two or three different T-shirts with different colours and pictures of candidates at the same time. However, the most outer T-shirts they use are their own association T-shirts. And during the election season, all candidates will offer them financial assistance with different names.
“We can decide which T-shirt to use depending on which candidate visits us. When the candidate with a bold moustache comes, we will wear a T-shirt with his picture. If the candidate with sun glasses comes, we will wear a T-shirt with his as well. But when our wives come, then we just take off our T-shirts,” says I Made jokingly.
The conclusion is that during election season, politicians and people often playing games with each other.
