DaffyDuck

Ah, yes Baboon, the old "just you wait and see..." argument - usually employed when someone doesn't have any real facts at their disposal, and has to resort to weak emotional FUD. Surprised you didn't invoke Godwin.

tbthailand - Since you are incapable of conceiving any scenarios but your own, abhor providing support for many of your fantasy-borne assertions, refuse to engage in intelligent discussion, and frequently degenerate to every logical fallacy known to man, any further communication with you would seem entirely pointless.

Sorry your google is broken - it's amusing how you folks, when cornered and waning, resort to whining and crying foul to mommy.

It appears that the former implementation of democracy did not work for Thailand, as it was usurped, abused and manipulated by a criminal and his family.

Hence, what is happening right now is the appropriate 'fix' - a suspension of the system, along with a much needed reform, before the system has a chance at a true democratic implementation again.

In economics this would be called a 'correction' - socially, this would be called an 'intervention' - I'm sure you know what these terms are, given that they are English.

As such, Prayuth is performing a much needed intervention in order to prevent the Thai political system from degenerating into something akin to Laos, Cambodia or North Korea. It's unfortunate that your shortsighted interpretation of current events is unable to grasp the much larger pictures that are at stake.

Right - and when called on it, the usual deflection.

(by the way, my browser doesn't display your GIFs, so...)

"The only system that has worked" - it all comes back to you folks being naive, and extremely weltfremd.

my guess is that he just wants to disgust the pro-democracy people so much that they stop posting about rational, self-governance and democratic principles. He seems to like the 'NCPO' being in charge of the country.

Funny how the same could be said about you - you seem to have liked a criminal being in charge of the country who usurped and abused democratic principles. As I point out earlier - as you weren't complaining and outraged about Thaksin doing exactly what you denounce, your arguments are invalid.

You are an Australian would you rather live in N Korea or Cuba?

These guys (tbthailand, jayboy, maxme, etc) remind me of that guy.

'happiness', ... well for their 'friends', yes. For the country? They don't care about the country.

... and you know this how? Oh, right, another unsupported assertion. As usual.

Anyone who thinks that "Free, fair and regular elections" are the beginning and the end of democracy is a bit "slow".

The naïveté of some of the Thaksin aficionados in these threads is astounding - but your summary does explain most of it rather well.

The concern is much more focused on the terrible damage his government is doing to the country - economically, socially, politically.

Seeing as to how unconcerned you and most other vocal critics on this forum were about the damage Thaksin was doing to not just this country - economically, socially, politically - but also by making a mockery of democratic institutions - your 'concerns' carry very little weight, and are relegated to the level of hypocrisy.

I love this guy. He doesn't get everything right but all his intentions are for the peace and betterment of Thailand and its people. It's not an easy job he has. He has my respect.

+1. That's exactly it, and it's what the haters can't seem to understand (that, and their own selective memories)

For me I'd rather see the people and the press free to express their options instead of living in fear if they do.

I find it interesting that, holding this view, you feel that Thaksin governments were better - considering the intimidation of the press and the extra-judicial killings that happened

Oh, right, selective memory.

Considering that 85% of Thais appear satisfied with the status quo, you do not appear to talk for Thai citizens.

"letting the electorate decide who they deem fit to run their country" - so, elections, then.

Yet, in the same sentence you claim that elections aren't the criteria for "letting the electorate decide". How are the elections in Cuba, Laos, North Korea, or Russia not "letting the people decide". How are the elections in those countries not democratic?

1. Cuba. Castro proclaimed the new administration a direct democracy, in which Cubans could assemble at demonstrations to express their democratic will. As a result, he rejected the need for elections, claiming that representative democratic systems served the interests of socio-economic elite.

2. China. Communist party picks all of the candidates that stand for election.

3. North Korea, Only one candidate appears on the ballot. Elections are ostensibly conducted by secret ballot, and a voter may cross off the candidate's name to vote against him, but must do so in a special booth without any secrecy.

^{Sorry too daffy to continue you can look up the rest.}

So, are you saying that elections, manipulated by the elite for their own benefits, do not qualify as 'democratic', then?

Are you saying that Castro was wrong?

Actually this story is similar to the Stickboy article on Thai Airways promoting Soi Cowboy and getting laid in a bid to boost passenger numbers.

It is bs, posters are carrying like the General has been awarded a big award for being "Man of the Year" when in fact those words were only mentioned once, in the heading of the story. It is just the opinion of someone at the Nation.

Exactly - and as I already pointed out, in the context of "person who has had the most and most significant impact on Thailand", the title would be correct -- regardless of how much some posters hate Prayuth for purely personal reasons.

You must also have to remember that at that time they were working in a hostile environment as the ones they were investigating were the then Govt who were running and defending the scheme and they were also hampered by having their budget cut. You may remember the defense of the scheme included intimidation and threats to NACC members and if I remember correctly grenade attacks and bullet holes by....Errr 'persons unknown'.

So, if we are to listen to Thai at Heart, then these intimidation tactics, and systematic efforts to interfere with an investigation, and direct indications of corruption are just 'business as usual' and politicians should be forgiven for any of those..? Right?

What happened millions of years ago or five minutes ago is not in your immediate experience. Only the consciousness of the present moment is. It is the only thing you can experience. This thread is about awakening, not belief.

Well, then maybe you should open your eyes

What happened in the past can be ascertained by forensic examination of traces available in the present. What happened in the past can also be recorded and reviewed. It appears your understanding and awareness of scientific examination is severely lacking.

Objective reality is verifiable.

Considering that 85% of Thais appear satisfied with the status quo, you do not appear to talk for Thai citizens.

"letting the electorate decide who they deem fit to run their country" - so, elections, then.

Yet, in the same sentence you claim that elections aren't the criteria for "letting the electorate decide". How are the elections in Cuba, Laos, North Korea, or Russia not "letting the people decide". How are the elections in those countries not democratic?

... and North Korea is very much a democratic country by your own definition... So, this bodes well for Thailand.

The point about the hypocrisy of the USA is pretty obvious, and as I pointed out, your contortions of avoiding this acknowledgment are telling.

Daffy stop posting utter <deleted>, North Korea isn't a democracy. That it would be one by my definition comes out of your warped little mind.

It says so right on the package - DEMOCRATIC Republic of North Korea. Furthermore, they have elections. That is, after all, your only criteria. China has elections as well. So does Russia. So, now you are saying that elections aren't enough for a country to be a democracy?

"Man of the Year" is assigned to a person that has had the most, and most significant impact, on Thailand and Thai society - a point I clearly explained in the post preceding yours.

Do you deny that Prayuth has had the most significant impact on Thailand and Thai society over the past year?

Yes a Negative one

Another one who quickly forgets the debacle that existed prior to the coup.

Indeed. Selective short-term memory.

I like polls and since social science stepped out of the dark ages with word of mouth reliability being replaced by statistically significant polls the world has gotten much more accurate.

5555@ the duck, a handful of cops, a dozen land encroachments and some taxi scams......wownot even a microscopic bacterial tip of the iceberg

Yet, it is tremendously more than any prior government has managed to do. Funny, that.

Glad that you agree that the Army should remain in charge until 2025.

When do you think Thailand should have elections?

Right around the time when they are done with their self-appointed tasks, including the most important task, and no sooner than that. There should be no date set or given. 2025 sounds about right.

"... Clean some beaches..." and arrest top police embroiled in corruption; and crack down on taxi abuses; and crack down on crown land encroachments; funny how you just avoid mentioning his other tasks. Cognitive dissonance must be a constant headache to you...

... and North Korea is very much a democratic country by your own definition... So, this bodes well for Thailand.

The point about the hypocrisy of the USA is pretty obvious, and as I pointed out, your contortions of avoiding this acknowledgment are telling.

... isn't that what an investigation is all about, to ascertain culpability (or lack thereof)? It makes you wonder why the likes of TaH are so staunchly opposed to even the act of investigating - and yet he's unable to answer who the people involved in the rice scheme were.

Now that we *know* that cases were brought previously in front of judges, and that the guilty were penalized, it will be indeed interesting how this investigation, which TaH opposes, proceeds.

It's funny how these debates go with the haters.

First, they always clamor that "it's all about the Thai people and what they think"

Then, when someone chimes in with opinions solicited directly from those very Thai people - then the tune changes to "it's not about those couple of people you talked to".

Then, when polls are listed, it becomes "you can't trust the polls", etc...

Yet, their own arguments are invariably "well, the people I spoke to told me..." and "my own cherry picked polls support my opinion".

Funny, that.