Vote buying by any other name [Editorial]

[webfact]

Vote buying by any other name

By The Nation

 

 

The junta government says its generosity to welfare recipients has nothing to do with coming election. Is anyone convinced?

 

Everyone likes freebies, a trait that successive Thai governments have exploited to retain power, including the junta that’s been running the country for the past four years. The generals are now pinning hopes on winning a mandate from voters in the coming election, their ambitions bolstered by a Constitution they authored that tilts the playing field in their favour. 

 

Cautious of a determined opposition led by parties in the service of Thaksin Shinawatra, the junta is doubling down with goodies 

promised to the rural poor, over whom the self-exiled former premier continues to hold undeniable sway.

 

What the military-led government is offering, the Bt38-billion Pracharat Welfare for Grassroots Economy Fund, is aimed squarely at the 14.5 million holders of state welfare cards. We are again seeing a favourite term of the generals – pracharat – found also in the name of the recently established political party Palang Pracharat Party. The party’s acknowledged platform is to support the return of Prayut Chan-o-cha as prime minister after the election.

 

Pracharat refers somewhat obliquely to a “people’s state” and thus the connotation is populist. The junta does indeed believe its decision to topple a democratically elected government in 2014 was done for the good of the people, to restore stability and to bring state corruption to a halt. Having seized power at the barrel of a gun, the generals spoke of comprehensive reforms. Beyond ending the mayhem in the streets, though, little changed. Reform efforts fizzled, leaving the junta government scrambling for ways to legitimise its rule and cling to power.

 

The junta constitution was approved in a public referendum about which open debate was not allowed. Had the military ensured more public participation in the drafting of the charter, it would have won far more support, Thailand might have made genuine progress in these four years, and all citizens could feel more confident in moving forward.

 

Given the scant confidence in the government today, the junta is tapping the state budget to boost its popularity. Popularity for the generals is not about leaving a future legacy but about retaining power now. That mission shouldn’t by too difficult, in fact, considering that the constitution lets the junta appoint 250 senators to help elected lawmakers choose the next prime minister. 

 

Prayut’s continuance in that role is not an end in itself, however. The people will ultimately decide how the next government governs. If the economy is doing well, they might well let the generals continue to rule. If, however, there is a shock – imagine the anti-junta red shirts reoccupying the streets and violence resuming – then the military will struggle to maintain any role in politics.

 

For now, the generals are offering voters cash. “I don’t want the media to say this government just gives people money for political purposes,” Prayut snorted. “Everything has been done according to the law. It’s just a coincidence that it has been finalised now.

 

Don’t make everything about politics.” Asked why the government had embarked on a spending spree, government spokesman Puttipong Punnakanta concurred that it wasn’t political, insisting instead that the planned subsidy was partly designed to relieve the people’s burden. 

 

Given the timing, the words of both men strike us as insults to the average voter’s intelligence.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30359345

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-27

[Thaiwrath]

Mr P is well aware that he could not win an election on a level playing field, hence the disguised tactics. 

[Samui Bodoh]

"...For now, the generals are offering voters cash. “I don’t want the media to say this government just gives people money for political purposes,” Prayut snorted. “Everything has been done according to the law. It’s just a coincidence that it has been finalised now.

Don’t make everything about politics.” Asked why the government had embarked on a spending spree, government spokesman Puttipong Punnakanta concurred that it wasn’t political, insisting instead that the planned subsidy was partly designed to relieve the people’s burden. 

Given the timing, the words of both men strike us as insults to the average voter’s intelligence..."

 

"Its just a coincidence..."

 

Every reason for the coup, every effort at "reform", every promise made, every person appointed, were all for the continuation and benefit of people who hadn't earned the right to govern.

 

"Its just a coincidence..."

 

Every law, every aspect to the constitution tilted towards a certain group retaining power.

 

"its just a coincidence..."

 

Every appointment made to "independent" agencies supporting the Junta/Prayut. Every policy designed to allow the Junta/Prayut to benefit politically. Every "mobile Cabinet meeting" occurring in battleground areas.

 

"its just a coincidence..."

 

Every 'welfare' policy of handing out cash to the poor, every 'new' method of helping, every 'new' fund designed to enhance the Junta/Prayut's popularity.

 

"Its just a coincidence..."

 

Every person allowed to steal, rob, embezzle, gather state funds without fear. Every watch worn. Every family member appointed, every contract dished out.

 

"Its just a coincidence..."

 

Every abuse of power to silence potential critics and harm opponents from organizing in a political process. Every charge of 'Sedition'.

 

"its just a coincidence..."

 

No, it is not just a coincidence; to state that it is "...insults to the average voter’s intelligence..."

 

Sorry, feeling rather queasy at the moment...

 

 

[leeneeds]

Khun Prayut has learnt the political game well, legitimising his  status as the legitimate PM, come the end of election, well played sir.

 

[ezzra]

Since the down of times this is what ruling governments do, offer "incentives" to the voters, recently in an election in Victoria Australia the premier went around and pledged billion upon billions in development of just about everything even planning to borrow 25 billions to cover those pledges and his party won by a landslide margin, in Thailand people count on that money and will vote for the devil if it pays well, so no need to do as soul searching here, paying for votes is a way of life almost everywhere..

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, leeneeds said:

Khun Prayut has learnt the political game well, legitimising his  status as the legitimate PM, come the end of election, well played sir.

 

Not the first time this has occurred in Thailand's contemporary history.

[YetAnother]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Given the timing, the words of both men strike us as insults to the average voter’s intelligence.

methinks you expect too much of the average voter's intelligence, sadly

[Lungstib]

From 'promises of reform' to the trusted old trick of vote buying via the introduction of those good old power broker politicians they supposedly despised. Just forget the words and watch the actions and all is crystal clear.

[robblok]

methinks you expect too much of the average voter's intelligence, sadly

We will see it in the results the last topic with a poll (if we can even rely on it) shows the PTP dropping 8% in voters and Democrats 10%.

But no big win for pro junta parties. Maybe all this vote buying will work. Maybe not the election will tell. So far it does not look like it does.

But the money has not been received yet but soon it will. I am real curious about all of this if this will work. If it does it will show that people care about money not ideology.

Interesting times.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk

[chainarong]

Most governments buy votes, not one would lie straight in bed and they wonder why people are so cynical,  you only have to look at the political situation in OZ to find out about buying votes and the country according to the former treasure and now job for the boys  OZ ambassador in the US Joe Hockey Oz is supposed to be broke, this buying of votes is a tradition that goes back to the French revolution, instead of money, they all ate cake.????

[robblok]

Most governments buy votes, not one would lie straight in bed and they wonder why people are so cynical,  you only have to look at the political situation in OZ to find out about buying votes and the country according to the former treasure and now job for the boys  OZ ambassador in the US Joe Hockey Oz is supposed to be broke, this buying of votes is a tradition that goes back to the French revolution, instead of money, they all ate cake.[emoji14]

True but the junta cried foul aul when the PTP did it and now the PTP cries foull when the junta does it.

Bunch of hypocrites on both sides. Then you got posters on this forum condemning it from one side but not the other side.

I condemn it on both sides, i know its standard but it always gives the party in power an unfair advantage.

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[holy cow cm]

The big boys of the World require human rights and fairness of open level trade. If the Junta and Privy council did not rely on the countries for economy survival of exports and for tourism, they would not care one iota and just use the military to keep power. Nothing shows me they care about anything but themselves and the elite old money and power.

[Lupatria]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The junta government says its generosity to welfare recipients has nothing to do with coming election

The same applies to independent international "election" observers.

[AGareth2]

3 hours ago, robblok said:

But the money has not been received yet but soon it will. I am real curious about all of this if this will work. If it does it will show that people care about money not ideology.

the poor always do

[robblok]

the poor always do

Of course but my question was more if this package would persuade people to vote pro junta.

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[AGareth2]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Of course but my question was more if this package would persuade people to vote pro junta.

Sent from my SM-G955F using Tapatalk
 

doubt it

most are tribal

happy to take the money though

[zaphod reborn]

Funny.  I don't recall any outrage when Thaksin paid for TV's, satellite dishes and air con units for everyone in the north and Isaan.

[sjaak327]

16 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Funny.  I don't recall any outrage when Thaksin paid for TV's, satellite dishes and air con units for everyone in the north and Isaan.

Tiny difference, Thaksin obtained a mandate. The junta is here because of their guns, not because anyone voted for them...

[yellowboat]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

The junta constitution was approved in a public referendum about which open debate was not allowed. Had the military ensured more public participation in the drafting of the charter, it would have won far more support, Thailand might have made genuine progress in these four years, and all citizens could feel more confident in moving forward.

All this is far too late.  They thought an unchecked, military government would move the country forward?  The naivety is hard fathom.    They only had one objective: seize power for themselves.   Somebody should have said this in 2013.

[zzaa09]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

All this is far too late.  They thought an unchecked, military government would move the country forward?  The naivety is hard fathom.    They only had one objective: seize power for themselves.   Somebody should have said this in 2013.

......and the overwhelming percentage are oblivious to contemporary Thai history and how most everything just repeats itself - over and again. None of this current seemingly chaotic presence in new. The cycles have been of this nature for ages. 

 

Even the observant scholarly pundits, less the everyday insight, lose sight to the historic relationships and similarities.