Showing 1 - 10 of 27
Scandals confirm what we already know
Oped, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 07/05/2018
» Thailand has no shortage of national scandals; one after another in less than six months, starting from November of last year. It began with junta leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha berating a fisherman down south for daring to matter-of-factly ask him tough questions. Next came deputy junta leader Gen Prawit Wongsuwon flashing his posh taste for luxury watches, which supposedly were borrowed from generous friends.
Get therapy for the emotionally stunted
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 23/02/2014
» If the elitists believe poor farmers are stupid, then caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra must think the entire country, in fact the world, is stupid.
The 'Big Man' theory
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 16/01/2014
» To fully embrace democracy is to first offload the baggage of feudalism or absolutism. They are paternalism, patronage, tribalism, cronyism, nepotism and others. The baggage is never entirely discarded, but can and should be minimised.
Democrats hit dead end
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 22/12/2013
» If the re-election of Abhisit Vejjajiva as the Democrat Party's leader ensures anything, it is that Pheu Thai will win every single general election in the foreseeable future.
Them Ol'middle class Bangkokian blues
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 15/12/2013
» There's a saying from even before Thaksin Shinawatra became prominent in politics: ''Provincial people voted them in, Bangkok people kicked them out.'' The saying refers to the succession of stomach-churning governments during the 1990s democracy experiment. Regime after regime, the provinces voted in the corrupt and incompetent, while Bangkokians pressured each to step down. But for the past seven years, upcountry provincial folks have said, ''no, you're not going to kick this one out''.
Thailand flirting with disaster
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 14/11/2013
» Thailand’s modern history has been a fortunate one, comparatively speaking. While our neighbours have fallen prey to western colonialism, we manoeuvered to stay independent in centuries past. While our neighbours fell apart into civil wars, we managed to keep our society together in decades past.
Cheating the cheaters
Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 30/05/2013
» Foreign workers are useful. They fill the jobs we don’t have the proper skills to do, or the jobs that we simply don’t want to do.
I know who burned CentralWorld
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 26/05/2013
» Give me my 10 million baht _ I know exactly who the arsonist that torched CentralWorld back on May 19, 2010 is. This dude is notorious. He has struck before and no doubt he will strike again. Hi name is Ai Puad.
UDD can bring us change to believe in
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 19/05/2013
» The accusation is often made that Thailand can never change. However, over the past six years, propelled by political crisis, there have been many changes, which some some would say are for the better. Some would argue the opposite, but at the end of the day it is up to the Thai people to steer the direction of change.
Getting over those tribal instincts
News, Voranai Vanijaka, Published on 12/05/2013
» Thai culture still relies far too much on relationships, rather than ideologies. Time and again we see democratic ideals sacrificed for the sake of relationships on both sides of the political divide. This is why our political structure is often termed a feudal system rather than a true parliamentary democracy.