Thai politics

Yinluck: At what price?

By rene33, Created on: 26/02/2014, Last updated on: 11/03/2014

» How many people must die 'till she steps down?

• bobbyd commented : [quote:3chnd98c]by rene33 on Wed Feb 26, 2014 6:21 pm How many people must die 'till she steps down?[/quote:3chnd98c] Many! Maybe more.

• Asianguy commented : I do believe that more will die if she step down. Better that she remain and negotiate the impasse.

• 4 replies, 9,303 views

Thai politics

Q and A: Thaksin Sits Down With Forbes, 2012

By oldexp, Created on: 01/03/2014, Last updated on: 02/03/2014

» Time and again this interview (http://www.forbes.com/sites/timferguson ... ith-forbes) pops up among the comments to some article. Would BP or someone else with knowledge please bring light to his part: Q. Have you ever got your money from the Shin Corp process back? A. I got back part of it, about...

• Eric commented : It is actually very straight forward. The Shin Corp deal with Temasek was worth 2.3 B in 2006 and the Supreme court confiscated 1.4 B leaving 900 M. It took a while for the court process to release the fund and this is the 1B he was referring to. Perhaps he round it up or there were interest accrued. If there was any hanky panky, would you think any of his enemies would have pick it up?

• oldexp commented : Thanks Eric, So it got nothing to do with the 46 billion Baht withheld that were mentioned many times in context with the PT amnesty bill?

• 2 replies, 10,445 views

Thai politics

Politics

By Luvtat, Created on: 13/03/2014, Last updated on: 05/05/2014

» I feel so sad for all my Thai friends You have a caretaker PM who is clueless, That she says one thing does another. She is dividing your country in two. She has taken the smile that I have grown fond of over the years and replaced with anger. I see where it was safe to walk the streets at night to...

• Luvtat commented : Did I mention the PDRC anywhere in what I wrote I think I just said I think the caretaker PM seems to be clueless But didn't mention the PDRC at all. Do I feel there right "NO" Do I think I could do better? "NO" But Do I think the present caretaker Government is doing right for it's people? "NO" All I stated I was sad at that fact that the smiles I use to see here are almost gone. I remember when people here who had little to nothing always managed a smile but now it is harder to see that. I hope you understand what I'm saying I have no right to voice my opinion On either side. That's the problem this is Thailands form of Democracy I support no side I would like to see the people win in this mess but the future will tell. Best wishes on outcome to all Thai's.

• philipa commented : Chef, the pot calling the kettle black? Democracy affords rule of the country to the majority. In Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra is the democratically elected Prime Minister. The way you remove a Prime Minister from power is for the opposition parties to come up with policies and strategies that the majority agree with, not to use your armed forces to flex their muscles for a bag full of money. The army is there to protect your borders NOT to interfere with democratically elected governments. In Abhisit's case, from a moneyed background, he simply says, 'It's not fair, I can't win. It's my ball so I'm taking it with me and going home'. A true statesman would adjust his party's policies to appeal to the majority and win an honest election. Ask Tony Blair, for a recent history lesson, how he readjusted socialist policies to appeal to the majority and ended eleven years of right-wing rule. If Thailand wants true democracy, bring back your Prime Minister and allow him to finish his term. If the opposition can't come up with a new direction that appeals then get used to having Thaksin for the long term. Start behaving like adults and learn from the bad results and grow your intellect.

• 5 replies, 13,452 views

Thai politics

Courage...?!?

By Voice, Created on: 06/01/2014, Last updated on: 06/01/2014

» Protester said they follow Suthep because he has the courage to stand up for Thaksin regime since protester and Suthep seem to have the same view about Thaksin they willing to follow him all the way. I suppose working for the same cause could have good affect if there are enough people on street in...

• 0 replies, 8,504 views

Thai politics

Reform?

By Luvtat, Created on: 23/01/2014, Last updated on: 29/06/2014

» For those you who think reform can be done overnight think again. Reform may take years to get done, but if the new Pm asks the courts to help and the courts limit the powers of the PM and MP's to create laws and schemes then it might be done within a year or two. But it would need the help of all...

• Tim1101 commented : Every democratic country has continual reforms to their laws and procedures, but it all starts from the basic premise, everyone has a right to vote and an equal vote, regardless of education level. For example, today in Canada, some federal parties either wish to reform the Senate similar to Thailand's Senate, others do not want change, or abolish the Senate completely! It is my understanding that some Thai people who are educated want their vote to have more weighting, but this just raises more questions and concerns. Such as, why should a person who was lucky enough to be born into a wealthy family who can afford to send them to school, past grade 6, and then into college or university have a greater say. This would be unfair and how would the country have to change to help the disadvantaged? Free school till grade 12? Free college and university? That would be an answer but an extremely costly one and ultimately hurt the economy and the number of workers would drop and it would highly effect the ability of the impoverished families to get enough money to eat. This process of education reform would have to take years if not a generations. Also, there would exist another form of corruption, I.E., university applications being accepted and rejected based solely on where you were born or social ties; thus influencing the weighting of a person's vote. Placing a greater vote weighting because of education level can stifle creativity and innovation. This reminds me of what is happening in the developed world, education level, I.E., college and university degrees no longer have the prestige they used to hold. People with high school education outcompeting people with degrees for jobs because of hands-on, work experience. Depending on the topic, who's smarter? The person who attended university or the person who entered the workforce right after mandatory education? A person can not know everything, and sometimes the smartest person is the worst person to lead as they can be out of touch with the views of other people and lack interpersonal communication skills; not to mention the pride, ego, and self-righteous attitudes that some so-called educated people demonstrates. I know people with Doctorates in an Art or Science who have no idea about business or the economy. Should these people have a higher weighting than a successful business person? Furthermore, with technological advances, such as high-speed internet and tablets, a lot of courses taught in colleges and universities can be found online for free. So the difference would only be a piece of paper! This idea that an educated person should have a greater weighted vote is pure rubbish! An educated person would be able to see their own short-comings and realize this!

• Luvtat commented : To make my position clear I feel it is the right, no it is the duty of every Thai citizen to vote. Anyone who would block them from voting should be rounded up tried and if convicted Exiled to Dubai with the one who is at the core of the problem. Now real power comes from the people, If you keep them happy then you will last in office but if you cheat them lie to them and generally fail them then your out. A man or woman in a position of leadership must own up to what happens under there watch. I can't think of how had that must be but I do know I would do it. So when I vote I check up on voting record how well the person speaks knowledge of subject matter if they talk with the common man. and there Personal experience. Because if you were born with a silver spoon in your mouth then you can't relate to me or I to you. But if you show lack of knowledge of what your suppose to be managing, Then you don't deserve the position you in.

• phojunk commented : Luvtat, I understand your position regarding everybody has an equal right to vote. But that is just an aspect of a representative democracy. Now when people talk about democracy, that term is awfully vague. Take for example American politics since somebody mentioned it. The founders of America were scared of two things more than anything else when they formed the country's constitution. Powerful centralized government and tyranny of the majority. Now if we take that into account this is exactly the problem Thailand has. Now people would think that tyranny of the majority is democratic. Since the majority should decide what to do with the country right? Wrong. What has killed most direct democracy (pure democracy) since ancient Greek is the majority that comes out of a faction. Factions are groups of people with a similar goal in political interests. Factions are now represented by political parties. Take for example the problem with democracy in the middle east. Many middle eastern countries elect non-secular Muslim who then creates law that only benefits the majorities and oppressing the minorities. This is a classic example of the failure of democracy. And as we all know the majority are not always correct and giving them free reign can sometime leads a country into a conflict. Now how the US did it is through 'check and balance' I don't like the word 'balance' cause they imply that each branches of the government are equal, but no country is. Each branches of the government would check on one another. And spreading the power of these branches in order to stop one branch of the government becoming too powerful. How they stop the tyranny of the majority is most importantly by the senate. Each states of the government would get 2 senators each. Despite the fact that some state vary so much in population. So in terms of representation, a small minority could vetoed and make laws just as the majority can. Now is this a democratic? no. So what exactly is democracy?

• 12 replies, 25,081 views

Thai politics

Non-party politics

By Makropo, Created on: 18/01/2014, Last updated on: 18/01/2014

» Must Thailand copy the party system of politics which exists in most other countries? What if the members of parliament were free to serve the country without being told what to say and how to vote by party leaders? Achieving this does not require the immediate abolition of political parties. Simply...

• 0 replies, 7,404 views

Thai politics

Could Thailand ever come out from political nightmare?

By Voice, Created on: 03/12/2013, Last updated on: 16/06/2014

» Protest maybe people power but could this people power really change anything for the better..! Today we see people around the world stand up to government. Some have success some still on-going most importantly civil disobedience is raising. Thailand itself has hold its own record of civil upraises...

• johncat1 commented : No Thailand will never change because corruption is part of Thai culture now. There will be lots of promises but as soon as the Military hand back power the corruption will start again. The only way is for the military to head an Anti-corruption department which is independent of any ruling government, and they must have the power to prosecute corrupt government officials from the Prime Minister down to the filing clerk.

• GinBoy2 commented : The problem is, when people rise up in a popular revolt against their government, it's because the government is not a democratically elected one, pick any of the arab spring uprising's as one of them. The trouble with this Thai 'uprising', its a sub section of the population who just don't like the result democracy has dealt them. Like it or not, Pheu Thai (or the various incarnations previously outlawed) have won every election since 2001 and the protesters dont seem to 'get' the fact that to change that you have to appeal to the whole electorate. Stamping your feet, occupying buildings and installing whatever this peoples government is, not elected by anyone, solves nothing. LEARN how to win elections is my advise

• 12 replies, 27,087 views

Thai politics

Thailand: Land of "If Only..."

By 05H, Created on: 19/12/2013, Last updated on: 19/12/2013

» As long as I've known it, Thailand has suffered chronic political instability punctuated by major, often violent upheavals. I do not presume to know the solution. I pity the majority of vibrant, creative Thai people for the enormous loss of potential that they suffer both as individuals and as a nation...

• 0 replies, 8,857 views

Thai politics

How do we fight corruption?

By chopinfan, Created on: 19/12/2013, Last updated on: 06/02/2014

» I ran into a very interesting article about how Singapore fought corruption successfully. Surely many will have different opinions t but perhaps we can learn and adapt it for Thailand if people are willing to make this happen quickly. http://livelystories.com/?p=137

• soltair commented : "general Thainess of avoiding conflict and saving face." is costing this country Billions all the time.

• MrUSA commented : I believe corruption can never be fought until we significantly lower the level of poverty in a given country. The rich and leaders want to keep the money to themselves as there are too many poor people. This is then the start of corruption. Government workers will take bribe because they don't make enough money anyway. The system now works in Singapore because poverty is much lower. For instance, if there are no other better way of making money, then selling drug is the much easy choice of earning. The people need more choices of making money. Being a leader we have to lead the people for the better and build a legacy for ourselve for many generation to come. Corruption puts a stain on our legacy. Would you want to be the next premier to UNITED Thailand and be remembered for generations to come??? Wow...who wouldn't want that?

• 4 replies, 14,555 views

Thai politics

Corruption and politics

By Ian, Created on: 26/05/2013, Last updated on: 13/12/2013

» Whilst the UDD have many genuine grievances, there are many who are just along for the ride. Why is this? Well corruption at the local level, say 200 Baht to a traffic policeman, would seem to be perfectly acceptable to most Thais, but what about the major corruptions by governments running into billions...

• chopinfan commented : I think rural people do more than that as they are feeding the whole country via agriculture and provide other services. They also paying indirect tax via VAT and what not. Surely we need better and fairer tax collection system but we also need to deal with poverty and equal resource distribution. Poor can not pay as much tax as the middle class or upper classes. Also there are so many tax fraud or loophole that big corporation and smart wealthy people can avoid paying their fair share again via corruption I suppose. With better tax system and transparency, we can have better social services to lift up people out of poverty level. On the corruption aspect, Government, state officials, and politicians are the most important root causes of corruption. Ideally and in theory if we can get rid of incentives and opportunities to corrupt, corruption will go away. Perhaps we don't need politicians after all . A government will simply consisted of elected individual/representative directly from people across Thailand. However major decisions will be separated and (on-line) voted directly from people; as this will impact people base on their decision. A government is simply there to serve and manage basic needs like safety, infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, emergencies, defense, tax, education, social services, social welfare, justice, etc. I know there are a lot of overlapping. Ideally decision makings will be giving to people via direct voting only not the government. Please see very interesting link below. http://www.ted.com/conversations/16555/ ... toppi.html

• 1 replies, 20,080 views

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