A Glimmer of Hope- Indonesia

Amidst the global economic meltdown, the world's fourth most populous nation, Indonesia's economy has not altered its course. As the country's Finance Minister stated eloquently in a recent interview, "Indonesia is a land of diveristy. You can bribe public officials in so many ways, I cannot even describe to you. Prior to the global recession, Indonesia's economy was highlighted by stale business practices, poor government regulation, non-existent investor safeguards, and, occassionally, riots in the streets. Nothing much has changed since then."


The ultra-wealthy in Jakarta have benefitted most from the country's resilience.

During the interview, the Minister also boasted about his nation's high tolerance for inflation. "Indonesia has done for inflation, what the Irish have done for drinking. We have such a high tolerance for it We're @$#% awesome at it. I personally try to maintain the country's inflation rate and my son's SAT score at the same level. It has made the lines move a lot faster at supermarkets, because if the line is too long, you might not be able to afford your purchase by the time you get to the cashier."


The Minister had some harsh words for the United States' handling of the current crisis, commenting that "...in America, subprime mortgages are a controversial topic. In my country, I have never even heard of such a thing as a prime mortgage. When you give a load to a dude living amidst a pack of Komodo dragons, you pretty much have to write that #$@% off."