Thailand ‘on path to democracy’, says acting US envoy

[ThaiFelix]

2 hours ago, BobBKK said:

Shows he knows NOTHING about Thailand

Exactly.  Seems he needed a lesson in Thai vocab before making that speech.  For example a "crackdown" means everybody sounds serious but all is forgotten after a week ie wearing helmets,

"enforcing" means the law has been written but months of thought needs to be done about the pros and cons of the decision before the new law is shelved ie riding in the back of pick-ups or the OA health insurance requirement,

"Investigating" means endless committee meetings, lunches, pretties, big talk, dividing of the cake and at least two or three years duration before a vague outcome is produced.

"moving forward"  means all of the above but drawn out over several decades or till the trough is bare.

"Democracy"  means doing as you are told and being without any say at all in what your government deems is "best for the people".

 

[TKDfella]

I have decided that 1) I or they, live in a different 'Thailand' or 2) They can't see what's going on due to all that smoke being blown you know where.

[holy cow cm]

Being politically correct to keep a USA foot in the Thailand door against the Chinese big foot taking up all the space. And in reality no one can say anything about the end results of the election even if they don't add up to be white as the driven snow. 

[Knee Jerk Reaction]

15 hours ago, olfu said:

Yes, Thailand is a democracy and so is any country who like empty talking like USA, North Korea, Vietnam etc.

And before anything I recommend research democracy as it originated in Greece.

The PM certainly isn't a general with the democratic stature, statesmanship and philanthropy of Pericles. The gulf between the two is infinite.

[Reigntax]

Of course it's on the path to democracy. Unfortunately its stuck in reverse gear

[zydeco]

22 minutes ago, holy cow cm said:

Being politically correct to keep a USA foot in the Thailand door against the Chinese big foot taking up all the space. And in reality no one can say anything about the end results of the election even if they don't add up to be white as the driven snow. 

If this is what is going on, it's a mistake. The US should be taking the initiative and playing Vietnam off against Thailand. Let the Thais get China. Then the US will simply move everything, diplomatically, politically, and economically to Vietnam. Might even include a bilateral free trade deal with Vietnam that simultaneously erects US tariffs on Thailand that correspond to Thai tariffs on US goods.

[Baerboxer]

20 hours ago, Artisi said:

Neither do the majority of Thai's. 

 

No, none of the diplomatic corps or Thai people.

 

Just the wise enlightened TVF posters who are all knowing! 

[holy cow cm]

15 minutes ago, zydeco said:

If this is what is going on, it's a mistake. The US should be taking the initiative and playing Vietnam off against Thailand. Let the Thais get China. Then the US will simply move everything, diplomatically, politically, and economically to Vietnam. Might even include a bilateral free trade deal with Vietnam that simultaneously erects US tariffs on Thailand that correspond to Thai tariffs on US goods.

I fully disagree with you. It is like a manipulative chess game and China is on everyone's ankles even VN. And of course that is what is going on. And of course as usual Thailand is trying to play both sides like the Victor Victoria scene.

[Artisi]

1 hour ago, Baerboxer said:

 

No, none of the diplomatic corps or Thai people.

 

Just the wise enlightened TVF posters who are all knowing! 

Think you have been around long enough to read between the lines of my comment even if it was only one line ????

[30la]

What kind of democracy? It always depends on the point of view!

[LNKDES1]

[brucec64]

The Democracy Index disagrees. Thailand is branded a "hybrid regime" and has declined since 2014.

 

Sent from my SM-N950F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

 

[samsensam]

2 minutes ago, brucec64 said:

The Democracy Index disagrees. Thailand is branded a "hybrid regime" and has declined since 2014.

 

Sent from my SM-N950F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

indeed, it's the US envoy's job to say nice things

[Cake Monster]

23 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Obviously, he hasn't realised that the election and appointing of the senate were rigged !

All this happened before he took office, and Thailand spend / spending a Shedload of Money on US Arms

[Eric Loh]

29 minutes ago, samsensam said:

 

indeed, it's the US envoy's job to say nice things

Really based on reciprocity; aka Trump philosophy. Buy our military junks and in return we will say nice things.

[Jim1000]

21 hours ago, Artisi said:

More like no alians allowed in, big wall to stop them. 

Artisi  I cant really comment on your post..... but I do like your taste in cars !

[Artisi]

41 minutes ago, Jim1000 said:

Artisi  I cant really comment on your post..... but I do like your taste in cars !

Wish it was still in the garage, unfortunately had to go when moving to  Thailand. 

[Jrbamc]

On 9/26/2019 at 6:43 AM, Artisi said:

"On the path to democracy", must be the reason for Donald's visit - to show napoleon how it's done. 

I don't know, I can get a decent lunch at BKK for under $2. I can't get a water for under $3 at any American airport. US has a $ Trillion a year budget deficit while Thailand has a surplus. The leader of the US is a liar a thief and a whore. Now tell me again why the US has a better government than Thailand?

[Grumpy John]

This guy works at the US Embassy in LOS......really!  The facts are pretty obvious to most people that this is anything but a democracy and may not be a democracy for a long long time.  But we aren't wearing ankle bracelets yet,  so things aren't as bad as they could be.

[toenail]

555- What does the USA government know about democracy when they have a “wanna-be” dictator as president who did not win the popular vote. 

[Aj Mick]

Been on the road to democracy for 87 years, including about 30 years under military government in one form or another, and many more under quasi-military control. Periods of nominally democratic administration have been few and far between, and usually brief. The road has been long, bumpy and winding, with no end in sight any time soon.

Edited September 28, 2019 by Aj Mick
fix typo

[Jingthing]

A long and winding road indeed. If that's really true (color me skeptical) do you think a Thai baby born today will ever see it?

[Aj Mick]

32 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

A long and winding road indeed. If that's really true (color me skeptical) do you think a Thai baby born today will ever see it?

The past couple of decades have seen some faltering turns toward democracy, and some emphatic turns in the other direction. It is possible that a baby born today could see a truely democratic Thailand in his or her lifetime, but recent turns make it seem unlikely. There may be a few signs of democracy in the passing landscape, but a rather different beast has been responsible for what is seen in the foreground.

[CharlieH]

Reported post removed.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 9/28/2019 at 11:16 AM, Jrbamc said:

 US has a $ Trillion a year budget deficit while Thailand has a surplus. The leader of the US is a liar a thief and a whore. Now tell me again why the US has a better government than Thailand?

 

The U.S. has a better system of government that Thailand, with a Constitution that has endured pretty much intact for a couple hundred years and generally served the country well, and the fundamental notion of co-equal branches of government providing checks and balances on the other -- the president, the Congress and the courts, along with a "free" press.

 

Unfortunately at present, that system is being abused, corrupted and mangled by someone who has utterly no respect, understanding or appreciation for the notion of co-equal branches of government, and the Constitution's notions of checks and balances. For him, it's all about the Imperial Presidency and ego gratification and self-enrichment.  Let the peasant American people eat cake!!!