while eliminating 50% of the corruption in Indonesia seems an impossible thing to do now, i found a quite optimistic view after reading "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell.

the tipping point: that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.

my perspective is that if there were a point when younger generations in Indonesia view bribing policemen or other government officers as something that is so-not-cool to do, that is the tipping point. if we thought being not inolved in any corruption-related activities as something really cool, that is the tipping point.

the broken window theory: if a window is broken and left unrepaired, people walking by will conclude that no one cares and no one in charge. Soon, more windows will be broken, and the sense of anarchy will spread from the building to the street on which it faces, sending a signal that anything goes. This theory simply says crime is the inevitable result of disorder.

i am thinking of jakarta, and convinced myself that my country will be much a better place just by improving the smallest thing in this capital city (which is according to the late and the great Romo Mangun, jakarta is "the melting pot of all the greedy people in Indonesia").

ps. update (april 22th'05): review tentang buku "the tipping point" ada disini

¶ 9:15 AM