“Change” vs “Experience”

Spending some time catching up with the news on the US Presidential Election, this is a new term I have heard when it comes to Obama vs Clinton. Although I will not be voting, this terms really interest me and kept me thinking, if I were to vote my President (in fact it’s coming in 2009 for Indonesia, and some names have appeared as candidates) who would I vote for?A person with a long list of experiences or a person promising changes?

Here, Obama is potrays as the candidate that would forever change the nation’s democracy and politics. On the other end, Clinton boosts  her 35 years of experience, including those in the White House. A person with a great resume must certainly knows “what to do”, but does knowing what to do will certainly brings a change in the system?Cause maybe its the system that needed to be change and that person with new visions and new ways of thinking might have a bigger ambition “to change”.

Back in Indonesia, Megawati (former president) and Sutiyoso (former Jakarta’s governor), Gus Dur (another former president) have put their names as candidates. Some said that Wiranto might also join them. These are people with a long list of experiences, might be even longer than Clinton’s, but I cannot recall any of them making a significant changes in social welfare and education policies during their time serving the country. Im anxious to see these candidates programs for social welfare policies in the coming election. And Im hoping for those young and fresh candidates such as Obama with the spirit to make a change and not to continue the “status quo”. Because we really need changes within the system, the way social welfare policies is viewed and implemented in the nation to bring the change into reality.

Another hope I have is the opportunity for us (the voters) to get clear pictures of each of the candidates’ programs and proposals, so what ever things they are offering us, experiences or changes, we ‘ll have a clear understanding rather than a long list of words without actions.

Hey, Im really am getting excited with this, we’ll I see how the debates and elections would be here, and I might be able to discuss more with you.