But rational calculations are not the only ones that influence public opinion, especially in the supercharged atmosphere of a first-ever referendum in a politically and ideologically divided society.

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Geoffrey Podger, the chief executive of the government's Health and Safety Executive, reckons most trees should be left alone and experts called in to assess obviously rickety ones only in very public places.

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The defence minister, Mr Juwono, says that he would be much happier if in future Admiral Widodo and the military spokesman were the only ones to talk politics in public.

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Another huge economic stimulus package, like the ones his predecessor pushed through, would only add to the huge public debt - now totaling about 130% of gross domestic product - without guaranteeing a full recovery.

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Fafsa, the only aid formula used by most public colleges and many of the less-selective private ones, does not count the value of a small business.

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Moreover, the government has been politically insensitive by deciding to touch only pensions for those in the private sector but not the even more generous public-employee ones, which are drawn by some of the People's Party's most loyal voters.

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He warned politicians have only had "coping responses" to challenges in public services, but urgently need to work on longer-term ones.

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