Showing 1 - 4 of 4
Thailand needs an informed citizenry
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 11/06/2015
» The concept of citizenship is fundamental to the principles of democratic governance. The two go hand in hand. The democratic state can basically be reduced down to the citizen, and citizens can only exist under the auspices of a democratic state. Without delving into political theory, it is this "social contract" which defines the relationship between a citizen and the state.
Reforms must ensure state apparatus is on our side
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 19/12/2014
» Among the reforms the National Reform Council (NRC) is expected to design is a new election system that will help Thailand mitigate the influence of vote-buying.
How about a few new laws for Thailand?
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 19/01/2013
» The following are some of the new laws which I think if judiciously implemented would make a lot of sense and bring happiness to the general public. No doubt readers will be able to come up with some of their own new laws too.
Beware politicians' weapons of mass deception
News, Songkran Grachangnetara, Published on 04/12/2012
» The most important role of any democratic citizenry is deciding who you trust to govern your country. This is the ultimate delegation of responsibility. But the process involves an intricate system of evaluating the ability, performance, policy and integrity of the person or party asking for your support. In order to do this vital job properly I think citizens ought to at least be aware of the "weapons of mass deception" that politicians employ to fool us into making uninformed decisions. An inquisitive electorate that asks poignant questions and holds people of authority to account is essential for a thriving democracy. Never blindly hand over the keys to our democracy without close examination, because all that glitters is not gold. As the great communicator Ronald Reagan once said: "Trust but verify."