Universal healthcare policy of greatest interest to Thais: poll

By The Nation

 

FILE photo

 

A Bangkok Poll found that 57 per cent of respondents to its survey identified free medical coverage or universal healthcare as the policy of greatest interest to them, followed by farm aid (54.4 per cent); those involving welfare, cost of living and income (48.3 per cent); assistance for the underprivileged and the poor (48 per cent), anti-corruption measures (45.7 per cent) and infrastructure (27.7 per cent).

 

When asked what qualities they would want in their prime minister, 66.4 per cent said they wanted a leader with integrity and no corruption record, followed by a resolute leader (46.6 per cent), a leader with proven creativity or with ideas for new projects (45.9 per cent), and a diligent person who works for the people (45.2 per cent).

 

Only 15 per cent said they wanted a non-partisan or “outsider” prime minister. Notably, 12.4 per cent wanted a leader from a new party while 12.3 per cent wanted a PM from a large party such as the Democrat or Pheu Thai. 

 

Asked whether they thought Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would gain popularity by visiting people in the provinces on the pretext of mobile Cabinet meetings, 56.5 per cent believed he would become more popular while 43.5 per cent said he would gain only a little. 

 

When asked if they would choose Prayut if they were to vote for a prime minister today, 40 per cent said yes, up 3.2 percentage points from a previous poll in January. Another 25.5 per cent said they would not vote for him, down 9.3 points from the previous survey, while 34.5 per cent would abstain, up 6.1 points. 

 

The survey, titled “What Kind of Prime Minister Thais Want”, was conducted on May 16 and 17 based on telephone interviews with 1,205 people aged 18 or over. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30345861

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-21

 

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

When asked if they would choose Prayut if they were to vote for a prime minister today, 40 per cent said yes, up 3.2 percentage points from a previous poll in January. Another 25.5 per cent said they would not vote for him, down 9.3 points from the previous survey,

bad news indeed; they are actually giving thumbs up to an arrogant, superficial, corrupt guy who doesn't keep his promises (meaning he is a liar) ?!

Excuse my confusion, but that maths thing again......

 

It appears 300% of those surveyed were confused also.

Edited May 20, 20188 yr by coulson
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1 hour ago, webfact said:

A Bangkok Poll found that 57 per cent of respondents to its survey identified free medical coverage or universal healthcare as the policy of greatest interest to them, followed by farm aid (54.4 per cent); those involving welfare, cost of living and income (48.3 per cent); assistance for the underprivileged and the poor (48 per cent), anti-corruption measures (45.7 per cent) and infrastructure (27.7 per cent).

It has to be noted that polls in Thailand MUST be taken with a grain of salt; with that caveat in place...

 

It is hardly surprising that universal health care/free health care (I hate that term; health care is never free) is number one in the poll. In times of economic uncertainty, it usually tops the list as people can manage most risks by themselves, the healthcare issue being the exception.

 

In a weekend story (sorry, can't remember specifically which one) I read that rural incomes fell between 2015 and 2017. Add to that the recent economic 'good news' focused on exports and tourism and no other part of the economy, then one sees that Thais generally are not very confident in their economic future; note that the top 4 responses in the poll dealt with personal economics.

 

As a side note and anecdotally, I see on Koh Samui large hotels doing seemingly good business, but the local people losing jobs and/or closing up shops as hotels strive (successfully) to keep their customers and their wallets inside their walls.

 

The sum of the above reflects what I think is occurring in Thailand; big business is doing okay while the individual 'little guy' is not. Or, put another way, the wealth gap is increasing in a country that already has one of the highest wealth gaps in the world.

 

This is a recipe for strife if not dealt with sooner rather than later...

 

Only 48% want to see anti corruption measures as a priority as the 52% are very busy right now. 

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

bad news indeed; they are actually giving thumbs up to an arrogant, superficial, corrupt guy who doesn't keep his promises (meaning he is a liar) ?!

How would you call the Shin guys & girls?

Poll say poor people need help.

Government not help.

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

bad news indeed; they are actually giving thumbs up to an arrogant, superficial, corrupt guy who doesn't keep his promises (meaning he is a liar) ?!

Whatever..... your comments are empty. I sense anyone short of perfect would not meet your approval. 

IMO he's done what is required in taking the first steps to decades of required reform needed. This country is not ready for democracy. 

1 hour ago, hansnl said:

How would you call the Shin guys & girls?

Elected ?

17 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

Elected ?

But not with a majority? 

 

Quote

anti-corruption measures (45.7 per cent) 

 

6 hours ago, webfact said:

A Bangkok Poll

Just for the sake of clarification, I believe that the "Bangkok Poll" refers to the Bangkok Poll of Bangkok University’s research center.

For example a similar reference was made in April 2016 and July 2016 when the center conducted a poll of Thais who intended to vote in the national referendum on the 2016 draft constitution written by the junta. It found in April that 58% indicated they would vote in the referendum but in July polled 80% would vote.

http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bangkok-poll-80-percent-intend-vote-referendum/

Actual voter turnout in August 2016 was 54-59% (depending on news source)!

This leaves one to wonder if the center might have a change of "interpretation" if the poll wasn't favorable to the junta. For example:

"Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, one of five election commissioners, predicted a turnout of over 80% in the coming referendum" ....  "If Somchai has it right, this would be the highest voter turnout in Thai history."  https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/Thai-official-sees-record-turnout-for-unpredictable-referendum

Was the 80% prediction conveyed to the center before their last poll before the referendum?

 

6 hours ago, YetAnother said:

bad news indeed; they are actually giving thumbs up to an arrogant, superficial, corrupt guy who doesn't keep his promises (meaning he is a liar) ?!

You may be right, but you don't understand politics in Thailand. The majority of Thais know for sure, whichever government gets into power is not going to make very much different to their lives. There is no democracy in Thailand because the people have absolutely no choice of a political system. There is no Farmer's party, Socialist party, workers party, Labour Party, Green party, Liberal party or any others. The Thai voter has absolutely no choice. They have to vote for a conservative capitalist party. All political parties in Thailand have no policies for helping the poor by raising taxes on the rich, property tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Only very few people in Thailand pay income tax. No efforts are made to tax the underground economy, which is enormous. Hotels, restaurants and businesses keep two sets of books 1 for income tax and one for themselves.

Some years back I remember a by-election in Bangkok. Only 20% voted and it was for an army candidate.  Taksin was very clever, by paying the north-eastern people to actually vote for him, otherwise they just couldn't be bothered to vote.

I also remember some years back there was a genuine survey of what Thai people wanted most.

Of some twenty questions and answers elections were not an issue. Income, security, housing, health and many such issues were their main concern and are still the same today. 

Who paid for this poll? And therefore what should have been the predicted outcome/result?

On 5/21/2018 at 2:36 PM, sawadee1947 said:

Who paid for this poll? And therefore what should have been the predicted outcome/result?

As I said in my post. The poll was a long time ago. It was not biased or paid for by anyone. But I very much doubt if the same poll taken today would be any different.

8 hours ago, gamini said:

As I said in my post. The poll was a long time ago. It was not biased or paid for by anyone. But I very much doubt if the same poll taken today would be any different.

Thank you. Agree with you 

On 5/21/2018 at 8:19 AM, hansnl said:

How would you call the Shin guys & girls?

Better.