Gerryasia

Pesky thing, this democracy notion. You actually have to win enough votes, unless of course you get the other parties eliminated.

Pesky thing also is this law thing.

Even when you actually have more than enough votes to win, you still cheat and bribe other insignificant parties to run so that you will win an election you would have won anyway without cheating.... but yet you do so anyway and your party gets banned because of it.

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Well spoken, in the village where I live there has just been a by election to replace Thaksins niece. It is a predominantly red village and there was no need to pay for votes, but pay they did, 350 baht a vote. The only reason I can think of is that they wanted to ensure a large turnout.

They are not paying because they have to. They are paying because the patronage system demands it, whether the vote does or not. Anyone who thinks Thailand is a democracy needs to seriously consider putting down the bottle and getting back on the wagon. These are peasants supporting their lord in the time honored tradition, and the lord is expected to show his (or her in this case) gratitude for their support. Very, very few people in Thailand actively want democracy, whereby people analyze the candidates platform and vote for the person they individually feel would be the most helpful. Instead, the feudal system in place today requires villagers to support their patron, who in turn embezzles a percentage from the government coffers and returns a percentage of that to the peasants who support him at election time.

I have no problem with the system as it exists. The fact is it works for those who live within it. The problem I have is with people who try and claim that given the above there is any kind of legitimacy afforded by a majority vote. That kind of legitimacy only applies if people exercise their vote responsibly in a democratic manner. Thailand has no such thing, and more importantly, Thais don't want there to be any such thing. Most are quite satisfied with the system as implemented.

Thailand made a mistake turning away from an absolutely monarchy. It is a failed experiment started 80 years ago by a few extremists with grand ambitions. The Thai people would be much happier if it was abolished.

Very well put and ACCURATE. I have been concerned about saying just the same for many years after living here. But now it needs to be recognized as another alternative...ie... Thai's don't WANT, NEED, or are READY for real Democracy. Hell...half the western world still is not!

I hear on Melbourne radio that when they paraded them in public and during the re enactment that it took 100 police to restrain an angry mob of 200+ spectators, many of them farangs who yelled abuse. Is this true, from any Phuketers who may have been in the crowd?

Its true, Chooka. My friend from Phuket Town said she saw that on TV. Many try to get at the murderers, not just farang.

I don't think it is a case of the Democrats winning at all.

What it seems to me to be is to cool down the situation and to slow the PTP down in ramming through a law which IMPO will cause greater division, bloodshed and heartache than Thailand has seen in many years.

I say bloodshed because both the Red Shirts and the yellowshirts are so diametrically opposed that heither side can see the other, let alone hear, listen and talk to each other and if there are street demonstrations there WILL be bloodshed.

The government boosted these 4 bills and combined them into one and made it the top priority over every other piece of legislation that has been going through Parliament lately.

Why are the PTP and government so worried that it will not be passed in this session?

What are they so afraid of that may be discovered in the bills which the Constitutional Court will have to clear and clear publically?

Sadly, as usual the majority of people in Thailand, rich,middle and poor alike who want to get on with their lives will have those lives disrupted again and the country as a whole will suffer.

I believe that you have a valid point in respect to a "cooling off". Unfortunately, the manner in which the constitutional court has intervened has not been particularly smooth nor well organized. There should have been more emphasis upon the legal basis for its actions. Instead, the decision was leaked first and then the basis for the judgement has slowly trickled out. The appropriate way to do it would have been to release the full decision, to allow time for the decision to be read.

It is incredibly inappropriate for there to have been a media event.. This has transformed, what could have been an opportunity for sober 2nd thought, into a political event. The court has interjected itself into political activity, when it should have stayed above the fray. I believe that these are strategic errors that will send the message that the court is interfering in legitimate legislative activities. Whether the basis for the court activity is correct or not, does not matter as the perception created is one of political interference.

The government was in a rush to pass the legislation, because the billl dies if not passed within the required time frame. I expect that the government will press ahead and make its point that the elected representatives of the people were thwarted by unelected officials. On the other hand, a new bill could be introduced and the fun can start again.

A Constitutional Monarchy is a hybrid of "Democracy", just like your Canadian "Commonwealth" is, considering WHO is your "Head of State". '_'

Most principles of true "Democracy" have been bastardized dating all the way back to the ancient Greeks.

Rule of Law is not safe from eternal power struggles in fledgling "Democracys"...just as it is not safe in, so called, "Democracys" that are hundreds of years old. The Thai people will deal with this issue as best they can...just as most countries are, worldwide.

IT IS " The Kingdom of Thailand".......deal with it.

I have sent this item to a Thai friend whose brother needs a job. '_'

I stayed at the On On the first time in Jan 1972. I met my first bedbug there. The island has been going downhill ever since. I wouldn't go to Phuket if you paid me - a lot!

And what was his/her name? '_'

News to me that there is a law preventing "suspects" from entering the Kingdom. I guess a person may not know that they were a suspect, unless they knowingly fled a country where they new that they were facing charges. You could not know that you were a suspect if Interpol or your own police force was keeping an eye on you, if you had not been arrested or charged with anything.

I do know of a case where a foreign government confiscated a persons passport on orders from Interpol and let him go, as he was not facing any criminal charges in the country that confiscated his passport. Only suspect in his own country.

Oooh...from your recent posts, sounds like YOU got some serious baggage Meester.

Will AV ever realise that his incessant whinging and mud-slinging at Thaksin brought about his embarrassing poll results?

I think it's the incessant actions on the part of the PTP that's bringing about their embarrassing poll results. 100% focused on bringing Thaksin back and not focusing on helping the poor people in this country. Read the news today. It's full of reds complaining. And for good reason. They might finally be waking up!

Reds don't "wake up"...they are in a THAKSIC coma.

The people I know did not ever need to be incited about the charter change. They believe PTP is the problem with the charter change and they should be punished. I don't know. What I do know is many thais did not vote at all in the last election. I think that will not be the case in the next election. I hope I am wrong for all you Reds. And I hope I am right for Thailand.

People don't pay attention anywhere though. They will probably elect that idiot in America again.

AND YOUR ALTERNATIVE IS? Surely not the OTHER idiot...'_'

After living on the island for several years, I have personally experienced the level of tourist that comes in low/cheap season. It is no surprise that so many drownings occur.

They choose to believe that there is no danger and half are MAO anyway.

Lifeguards will help, and for the life of me. I cannot figure out WHY the tourist powers do not see that and respond accordingly.

The oceans in Phuket are TWO completely different environments, depending on the season.

Best everybody that plans to visit here understand and respect.

JOMO

Not even the Chinese can produce so much with so little in such a short time.

No doubt selling off old inventory.....think a 1st grader will care?

Lots of expats like Thailand because of the relatively low cost of living. Ever wondered how that works?

yes it works

And you MIGHT be the next with a dead body falling on your head from 68 stories...mai pen rai...I wish I was back there too...555. ;-)

No doubt the guy committed these robberies, he admits it. But have they ever thought about just maaaayyy be keeping their mouths shut after being arrested for the one robbery and pleading "not guilty" to the other stuff if he were accused...? It seems every time someone gets caught in a situation, they suddenly come down with diarrhea of the brain and mouth... Or am I way off base here...?

As I understand the Thai "court/justice" system...the more he "admits/confesses" to, the lighter his sentence will be for all his crimes. Supposedly saves time and money for investigations? Mai roo...'_'

Hmmmm...I'm thinking some enterprising Thai will set up a BBQ Dog stand/cart there soon?

No need to ship to Vietnam or Cambo!

'_'

'Tis the season for high waves and murky water...combined with the recent heavy rain runoff. Will be on and off like that all rainy season...but GREAT surfing! Hang Five Braddahs!

Gotta remember, folks, MOST of these people have only had TV for a cupla decades.

...

Ultimately I expect her to quit to spend less time with her family.

Ha! Brilliant!

Dang....I wish I knew how to upload the idiotic picture I just saw of YingbadLuck texting during the funeral? OMG.....somebody help me! ;-)

There are worse places than Britain. USA

comes to mind.

I'm just very happy I don't have

to live there any longer.

The rest of us in the Us are very happy also that you are no longer there.

Thank you.

I know I know. Americans are too proud to admit the facts. But at least the Brits acknowledge reality er come to terms.

I lived in Thailand for over 6 years and chose to return to the US for several reasons.

#1 The baht went from 40 per to 30, giving me 25% less buying power.

#2The recession devastated my investments and I lost my renter in California.

Lastly, I contracted the Chikungunya /Dengue and it transformed me from a young man to an old man in the space of 6 months.

I had many great times, surfed many good waves, had many great lady "friends" and walked many great beaches in south Thailand, the memories will live forever in my mind and harddrive.

I was at one time thinking about someday re-locating to the Chiang Rai area, for a cooler climate, but after seeing the air problems there this year, that is not an option.

I guess my point is that "happiness is where you find it and can make it last".

Everybody's idea of happiness is relative.

The USA isn't perfect OR Thailand, but it's home until something comes up that's better for ME.

That's a lot of money. Why not pay some cheap labor to remove the pirated branding and resell as generic for charity?

GREAT idea!...what a waste of donateable merchandise. Just like GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, they could provide some employment getting rid of the "fashion" labels and sell for charity. And then BURNING this stuff in the already overloaded and massively polluting Phuket incinerator? Who is the genius that thought up THIS plan?...sheesh!

In case all the planes are full, is it possible to drive to Europe yet?

I hear the train trip is quite an adventure! ;-)

The entire belief that Thais generally want Falangs to go home is a myth and is not based on reality...it comes from disgruntled Falangs posting on Thaivisa. If you think about the reality of the situation, the majority of the Thai population do not necessarily have alot of interaction with Falangs, and really don't have alot of sentiments that Falangs should go home...because they simply don't deal with Falang. I know members of my family rarely have interaction with Falang. Why would they either hate Falang or want Falang to go home when they don't really notice that you're here?

For the posters who claim that Thais have made a comment to you, there may be the possibility that a particular Thai may not like YOU in particular, not necessarily all Falang.

P.S. Naboo, please don't take this as a dig at you. Sometimes people don't like other people for whatever reason. If she's saying go home to you by the shop, it may not be a thing against all Falang.

Maybe if he ducked into the shop and actually BOUGHT something, the lady's attitude might change? Just sayin' '_'

"Reconciliation" per say...is unimportant.

Adherance to "Rule of Law" is...

They need this shit like they need a Nuke plant....My God, where do they come UP with this tripe?

Welcome to Pattaya, Redux........

This whole idea is shameful and "pandering" to the tenth degree. These kids need tablets like they need more candy. How about a little bit better schooling for all that cash?

Credit cards for farmers and Taxi drivers, sheesh.

Right off of Govt debt to a "ghost machine" national bank that just shifts the ultimate blame for mishandling?

And I'm not even getting started.

This Govt is an absolute JOKE!

Except nobody is laughing....

Everybody i spoke to here in thailand voting for Yingluck

Same here! People on this forum been so out of tough with Thais I am sure 90% live overseas but are experts.

This next thing they will say everyone was paid to vote red

Unfortunately the poor have been paid to vote. Thailand will stay in the corruption zone.

Give me one country that ~ISN'T~ run by corrupt politicians.

Thaksin is poisoned with power and wealth. The thing that sets him apart from politicians in the West is that he doesn't know when to stop. Unfortunately for him, Thailand has rules. The Elite have set the rules, and basically those rules go something like: "When you've had enough, let the next person have a go at milking the country". Well, Thaksin is being a spoiled li'l brat and he ain't moving over for the next boy. It's just a matter of time before Thailand reminds him of the rules, and it's not gonna be a nice ending for him.