3 hours ago, kwilco said:

 

I said that understanding Thai politics requires understanding the military's constitutional and political role. Your response appears to reject the premise simply because you don't recognise that role.

“I haven't noticed it, therefore it doesn't exist” is an interesting way of approaching Thai politics.

It's also rather a good illustration of the Expat Paradox: living somewhere for years can give you plenty of experience of the country without necessarily giving you much understanding of it.

You're confusing “I don't see it” with “it isn't there.”

Understanding Thailand's political system requires looking beyond who happens to be sitting in the government today and examining the constitutional and institutional role of the military, including its historical role in politics and coups.

If your argument is simply that because you haven't considered something, it therefore doesn't exist, that's not political analysis. It's an argument from ignorance.

The fact that you can't see the elephant doesn't mean it's not in the room.

 

Ok let's leave it there, if you a trying to say that Thailand is a democracy based on Monarchy, a succession of military coups and rigged elections you didn't that many words. Been coming to Thailand since 1979, with 15 years of residence. Don't even try to deny the fake ballots I see them coming to my house buying votes at every election. Going rate in the 300 to 600 range.

3 hours ago, Peter Crow said:

Ok let's leave it there, if you a trying to say that Thailand is a democracy based on Monarchy, a succession of military coups and rigged elections you didn't that many words. Been coming to Thailand since 1979, with 15 years of residence. Don't even try to deny the fake ballots I see them coming to my house buying votes at every election. Going rate in the 300 to 600 range.

No, I'm not; you're just trying to put words in my mouth – I have no idea why – then you start talking about how long you've been here – I worked here for over 20 years in industry, government and commerce, including as deputy PM and various ex-army politicians – just READ my posts – your powers of comprehension seem minimal, so instead you just make up whatever you like move goalposts ect etc - just because you didn't read..... - it seems that some people think because they've been coming to Thailand for a long time, they understand what's going on – but the reality is they have learned nothing

Edited August 8Aug 8 by kwilco

9 hours ago, kwilco said:

No, I'm not; you're just trying to put words in my mouth

But you are the happy owner of the "Thai democracy" oxymoron...

Road safety and other aspects of the expat paradox stem from the racist attitudes of expats and racism – there’s a lack of education, and few have considered it…

“I can’t be racist; I married one!”

One of the more uncomfortable truths about expat life in Thailand is that many people spend more time denying racism than recognising it.

The first rule of racism is much like alcoholism: if you insist you couldn't possibly be one, you've closed the door to examining your own behaviour. Racism isn't only about skin colour—it also includes assumptions of cultural superiority, stereotyping entire groups, and treating people as inherently less competent or civilised because of where they're from. E,g “it makes me chuckle”

Among some Western expats, that shows up in familiar ways: mocking Thai bureaucracy while never trying to understand it, dismissing Thai culture as irrational, reducing Thai women to stereotypes, or looking down on service workers and rural people while expecting exceptional hospitality in return. That's the Expat Paradox: rejecting immigrants and multiculturalism back home while living as an immigrant who refuses to integrate.

Hence perceptions of road safety – racism shows up on the roads; it’s one of the clearest examples.

Many expats have never ridden a step-through motorcycle before arriving in Thailand when it becomes their main form of transport... They suddenly find themselves on unfamiliar roads, in unfamiliar traffic, with unfamiliar rules. Instead of recognising their own inexperience, the conclusion is often, "Thai drivers are chaotic."

That's a perception, not a diagnosis.

The reality is more nuanced:

Around three-quarters of Thailand's road deaths involve motorcycles, not cars. Many foreign riders are unlicensed, uninsured, or riding without the correct motorcycle entitlement. In a car, the fatality risk is far lower than the stereotype suggests; you are less likely to die than on the average road in the USA.

Another persistent claim is that the Royal Thai Police "only stop foreigners' offences". E.g. helmets.

In reality, checkpoints stop everyone. Foreigners often feel singled out because document checks take longer, they don't know the language, and tourist routes naturally contain a higher proportion of foreign riders. That's very different from proving systematic discrimination.

The wider point is this: too many expats mistake unfamiliarity for incompetence and anecdote for evidence. Living in Thailand for twenty years doesn't automatically make someone an authority on Thailand. Sometimes it just means they've spent twenty years inside an expat bubble.