How might one say in Thai:

"In a Democracy, the People get the government they deserve"?

There should be some Buddhist phrase which can be adapted for this purpose, no?

Edited December 20, 200718 yr by DavidHouston

What do you think about this?

ในระบบประชาธิปไตย กรรมในการเลือกตั้งสนองกรรมในผลที่ปรากฏออกมา

Something more pithy?

David, I think below is roughly what you are looking for. It is a blend of the vaious factors you mentioned. Translit may yield a different outcome, but not what you seemed to specify.

ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย รัฐบาลจากการเลือกตั้งย่อมเป็นไปตามผลกรรมของผู้เลือก

Please note the use of the terms ระบอบ vs. ระบบ

ระบอบ is the governing system of a country

ระบบ is for system of a smaller nature, such as monetary system, digestive system, etc..

David, do you mean 'just desserts' regarding the thread's title?

You've chosen a phrase that could certainly be very apt in the following weeks.

Going back to your phrase a few weeks ago of 'a babe in the woods' to describe Prachai's entry into politics, I think we can't use it really as 'babe in the woods' implies innocence or naiveity surrounded by predators; but whilst Prachai could be described as politically naive he is certainly not innocent.

Although less colourful, I think the phrase' political novice' maybe more suitable in this case.

David, I think below is roughly what you are looking for. It is a blend of the vaious factors you mentioned. Translit may yield a different outcome, but not what you seemed to specify.

ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย รัฐบาลจากการเลือกตั้งย่อมเป็นไปตามผลกรรมของผู้เลือก

Please note the use of the terms ระบอบ vs. ระบบ

ระบอบ is the governing system of a country

ระบบ is for system of a smaller nature, such as monetary system, digestive system, etc..

Thank you for that correction of ระบอบ vs. ระบบ. I am similarly confused by องค์กร and องคการ์. In my attempt at translation I attempted to

expand on the ever popular กรรมสนองกรรม which seems to imply "just deserts". BTW, the story of the English phrase "just deserts" is as fascinating as its Thai counterpart. Thanks again.

David, do you mean 'just desserts' regarding the thread's title?

You've chosen a phrase that could certainly be very apt in the following weeks.

Going back to your phrase a few weeks ago of 'a babe in the woods' to describe Prachai's entry into politics, I think we can't use it really as 'babe in the woods' implies innocence or naiveity surrounded by predators; but whilst Prachai could be described as politically naive he is certainly not innocent.

Although less colourful, I think the phrase' political novice' maybe more suitable in this case.

For the origin and spelling of 'just desserts' or 'just deserts' see http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/just-deserts.html. I was confused as well until I read this British fellow's explanation.

ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย รัฐบาลจากการเลือกตั้งย่อมเป็นไปตามผลกรรมของผู้เลือก[/color]

In my attempt at translation I attempted to expand on the ever popular กรรมสนองกรรม

ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย รัฐบาล(จากการเลือกตั้ง)ย่อมเป็นผลกรรมตามสนองผู้เลือก

Do you like this latter version more?

We aim to please!

1.

ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย รัฐบาลจากการเลือกตั้งย่อมเป็นไปตามผลกรรมของผู้เลือก

2.

ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย รัฐบาล(จากการเลือกตั้ง)ย่อมเป็นผลกรรมตามสนองผู้เลือก

#2 is concise. But if you really want to link to the complete phrase "กรรมสนองกรรม", then you can say as in 3.

3.

ในระบอบประชาธิปไตย รัฐบาล(จากการเลือกตั้ง)ย่อมเป็นผลกรรมตามสนองกรรมของผู้เลือก

Cheers.

David, do you mean 'just desserts' regarding the thread's title?

You've chosen a phrase that could certainly be very apt in the following weeks.

Going back to your phrase a few weeks ago of 'a babe in the woods' to describe Prachai's entry into politics, I think we can't use it really as 'babe in the woods' implies innocence or naiveity surrounded by predators; but whilst Prachai could be described as politically naive he is certainly not innocent.

Although less colourful, I think the phrase' political novice' maybe more suitable in this case.

For the origin and spelling of 'just desserts' or 'just deserts' see http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/just-deserts.html. I was confused as well until I read this British fellow's explanation.

Thanks for that and apologies for doubting your spelling! As the article says, hearing the pronunciation one assumes the spelling is the double s. So this forum can improve our English as well as Thai!

David, do you mean 'just desserts' regarding the thread's title?

You've chosen a phrase that could certainly be very apt in the following weeks.

Going back to your phrase a few weeks ago of 'a babe in the woods' to describe Prachai's entry into politics, I think we can't use it really as 'babe in the woods' implies innocence or naiveity surrounded by predators; but whilst Prachai could be described as politically naive he is certainly not innocent.

Although less colourful, I think the phrase' political novice' maybe more suitable in this case.

For the origin and spelling of 'just desserts' or 'just deserts' see http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/just-deserts.html. I was confused as well until I read this British fellow's explanation.

Thanks for that and apologies for doubting your spelling! As the article says, hearing the pronunciation one assumes the spelling is the double s. So this forum can improve our English as well as Thai!

Now David, fess up! Was this a setup, a trolling, for someone like bannork to fall into the trap?

David, do you mean 'just desserts' regarding the thread's title?

You've chosen a phrase that could certainly be very apt in the following weeks.

Going back to your phrase a few weeks ago of 'a babe in the woods' to describe Prachai's entry into politics, I think we can't use it really as 'babe in the woods' implies innocence or naiveity surrounded by predators; but whilst Prachai could be described as politically naive he is certainly not innocent.

Although less colourful, I think the phrase' political novice' maybe more suitable in this case.

For the origin and spelling of 'just desserts' or 'just deserts' see http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/just-deserts.html. I was confused as well until I read this British fellow's explanation.

Thanks for that and apologies for doubting your spelling! As the article says, hearing the pronunciation one assumes the spelling is the double s. So this forum can improve our English as well as Thai!

Now David, fess up! Was this a setup, a trolling, for someone like bannork to fall into the trap?

No, really; I had to look up the spelling myself. In fact, I did not look very broadly; perhaps American usage is different from the British.

Here is the entry from Webster's online; turns out is is perfect for what I was looking for:

No, really; I had to look up the spelling myself. In fact, I did not look very broadly; perhaps American usage is different from the British.

Pronunciation: \di-ˈzərt\ Function:noun Etymology:Middle English deserte, from Anglo-French, from feminine of desert, past participle of deservir to deserveDate:13th century 1 : the quality or fact of deserving reward or punishment 2 : deserved reward or punishment —usually used in plural <got their just deserts> 3 : excellence, worth

Now, can we get back to what the Thai might be? Actually, I am very pleased with what Stateman provided. Thanks again.

Now David, fess up! Was this a setup, a trolling, for someone like bannork to fall into the trap?

No, really; I had to look up the spelling myself. In fact, I did not look very broadly; perhaps American usage is different from the British.

Here is the entry from Webster's online; turns out is is perfect for what I was looking for:

No, really; I had to look up the spelling myself. In fact, I did not look very broadly; perhaps American usage is different from the British.

Pronunciation: \di-ˈzərt\ Function:noun Etymology:Middle English deserte, from Anglo-French, from feminine of desert, past participle of deservir to deserveDate:13th century 1 : the quality or fact of deserving reward or punishment 2 : deserved reward or punishment —usually used in plural <got their just deserts> 3 : excellence, worth

Now, can we get back to what the Thai might be? Actually, I am very pleased with what Stateman provided. Thanks again.

Alright, you sounded credible enough.

Cheers.

Actually, I am very pleased with what Stateman provided. Thanks again.

You are welcome.

BTW I was just pulling your leg about fessing up...