PRESIDENT Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s budget speech did not make our hearts sing. The 2010 State Budget is too conservative, giving the impression of a stubborn government. More than a few people believe the budget does not promise or motivate the readiness to work hard.

Next year’s economic growth target is less than 5 percent. The reason given is that the global economy is not yet healthy. The economies of the three major world markets—th