I know how it's been freely mentioned that vote buying is rife in Thailand. Well after living in Thailand for the past 25 years I'm seeing it first hand today. It's up in Isaan where the ladies are notorious gas bags never letting the truth get in the way of a good story. All sorts of amounts of money have been mentioned per vote including several thousands of baht. What if the people accept the money and vote for someone else? Another thing the Government gives areas large amounts of money to be spent on that community. How much cream is skimmed off the top and placed in the pockets of the fat cats. I have 2 brother in laws, both are monks. They told my wife that people give food and money to the monks. The money being for the general maintenance of the wat. The wat management group (not monks) all take a huge slice of the action and all maintenance comes to halt because of lack of funds.

Such devout Buddhists, any wonder the Dali Lama flatly refuses to accept the Thai version of Buddhism.

7 minutes ago, Rams86 said:

know how it's been freely mentioned that vote buying is rife in Thailand. Well after living in Thailand for the past 25 years I'm seeing it first hand today. It's up in Isaan where the ladies are notorious gas bags never letting the truth get in the way of a good story. All sorts of amounts of money have been mentioned per vote including several thousands of baht. What if the people accept the money and vote for someone else?

Excuse me but what elections in Isaan this weekend? I know BKK and Pattaya have local elections and an alcohol ban this weekend, but did not know and have not seen Isaan elections.

I prefer not to say as my wife has a very large family here but it is in Korat.

6 hours ago, marin said:

Excuse me but what elections in Isaan this weekend? I know BKK and Pattaya have local elections and an alcohol ban this weekend, but did not know and have not seen Isaan elections.

Well here's the proof, my wifes nephew was declared the winner at 3.30 pm today. I don't know where he got the money to pay for the votes as he lives in a house I'd call a slum and I'm sure he doesn't even own a car as he and his family get around in a motor bike and side car.

We had a geezer who didn't have a lot , but he was a " good man " and he won one of the elections for something to do with our village.
Now he has a nice motor and a new pick up , a restaurant and bar , and a couple of tractors and a couple of trucks for hauling sugar cane or whatever.

Everybody knows where the money has come from , but as long as you siphon some of it off to the right people you are okay.
I know my wife's friends son and another friend of the wife borrowed nearly 800,000 baht each to try and win an election one year , both failed.
Expensive if you lose but if you win , the money just rolls in.

34 minutes ago, NE1 said:

We had a geezer who didn't have a lot , but he was a " good man " and he won one of the elections for something to do with our village.
Now he has a nice motor and a new pick up , a restaurant and bar , and a couple of tractors and a couple of trucks for hauling sugar cane or whatever.

Everybody knows where the money has come from , but as long as you siphon some of it off to the right people you are okay.
I know my wife's friends son and another friend of the wife borrowed nearly 800,000 baht each to try and win an election one year , both failed.
Expensive if you lose but if you win , the money just rolls in.

Entering politics is the quick way to achieve wealth.

I never forget many years ago we got invited to the biggest p*ss up of all time once again in Korat. There was copious amounts of free flowing booze, the best of food and a live band playing all night. The guy was a nomination for the local council as we call it. Anyway when it came to election time he ran last and it totally destroyed him. Years on I've heard rumors that he topped himself as he couldn't re pay his under writers at the rate of 22%. The egos of Thai guys is unbelievable.

14 hours ago, Rams86 said:

Well here's the proof, my wifes nephew was declared the winner at 3.30 pm today. I don't know where he got the money to pay for the votes as he lives in a house I'd call a slum and I'm sure he doesn't even own a car as he and his family get around in a motor bike and side car.

A family member came up from Bangkok yesterday to receive the money on offer. Her cousin one of the nominees gave her 2000 baht. Being family she refused it but he said no problems as it's not my money. Can you imagine what goes on when the big elections are held as this place is as remote as Dodge City but I've yet to find John Wayne.

22 hours ago, Rams86 said:

They told my wife that people give food and money to the monks. The money being for the general maintenance of the wat. The wat management group (not monks) all take a huge slice of the action and all maintenance comes to halt because of lack of funds.

Wife's family 'rule' is never give money directly to monks or temples. When their local temple building required painting and minor repairs the m-i-l agreed on basis her son-in-law bought all the materials and his paid staff did the work (she paid for it all). No backhanders, under the table deals or baht shares for the monks and temple admin people, Trust nobody.

That would've pulled a few noses out of shape.

An off topic deflection about the elections in the USA has been removed.