It's the beginning of a new week, so here is a new subject for debate....

Sometimes I look at the Thai government and get the impression that the people in power feel they have no obligation to serve the citizens of the country.

The government appears to be more like a major corporation whose purpose is to generate revenue for the couple of major share-holders who have the voting blocks that control the direction of the company. The company executive's only priority is to keep these majority share holders happy so they can renew their contracts at the end of their terms. The major shareholders in the company hold so much power through their voting blocks that all the minor share holders have to follow them anyway or risk being de-prived from the loyalty rewards & bonus schemes issued by the company.

The company is a self serving entity, ready to obliterate any opposition to its enterprise. If any opposition or competition to it's monopoly appears on the horizon, it is dealt with quickly and decisively. If there is any dissent from within, such dissent is terminated with extreme prejudice. Pro company propaganda is rife and all information is strictly controlled by zealous public relations personnel.

Anything that the company can make profits from is quickly embraced & anything that the company cannot profit from or control so competitors can't profit from is quickly outlawed. Other interests of the major shareholders become company interests by default.

Let us debate some issues:

Alcohol versus marijuana. - From a societies point of view, both probably have the same negative value.

From the companies point of view - alcohol is easy to regulate and generate revenue from by only issuing a limited amount of manufacturing licenses (usually to the major shareholders or their friends) & control the whole industry from the point of origin.

Gambling. - Although the majority of the general population concede the idea has overall negative repercussions for society, most are still in favor of legalizing gambling. The company loves this because it is another cash cow waiting to happen & not much money has to be invested through the public relations department to make it a reality. After all the house never loses and, being a cash enterprise, many of the major shareholders would love to have a facility where they can clean some of their income derived from dubious sources.

Import tariffs. - Propaganda - Protecting certain industries from overseas competition.

Reality. - Only protecting industries where the major shareholders have vested interests.

Mega Projects. - Easy sell to the minority share holders and general populous, who will be paying for it one way or another by direct or in-direct means.

Reality. - Cash cows for both the major share-holders and company executives, excess income usually used to finance acquisitions for the public relations department & sway the outcome of general elections.

Compulsory Licensing. - Another obvious easy sell to the mom and pop investor.

Reality. - Providing the major share-holders and their business associates with the access to easy, guaranteed by legislation, income without having to front up the cash or intellectual assets to do the research and development. Never mind that the "cloned" items are usually inferior to the original & in many instances, the items they sell have about the same positive effect on the general population as placebos.

Control of the media. - Self explanatory & keeps dissent amongst the general population to small, easily manageable groups.

Emergency Powers. - Powers created by the board of directors to allow, in times of dissent & general up-rising, for all power of the corporation to be placed in the hands of one individual to quell such opposition. Most other "companies" would call such a position by the names of "dictator, tyrant or megalo-maniac".

Legal System. - Under the current company charter, not much is going to be done to the legal system to influence the charter to be changed for equality of all. The major share-holders, many whom have cases pending against them, are able to tie these litigations up for lengthy periods of time, until allegations against them are dissolved by a statute of limitations.

At the end of the day, the general population rarely get what they ask for, rarely get anything of any real benefit given to them & if they don't support the majority share-holders, usually get ostracized from their community. Only the corporation, its profits and longevity are important.

Does this seem to be the way things are in Thailand & a few other countries in the region? Open for commentary and additions.....

And more.

Soundman's points are solid.

Thai politicians are unbelievably self serving, citizen hating, greedy basturds. The current group have gone about their business in a shocking way. They just don't care about anything other than filling their pockets. They think that they are well above the law, and can do as they please. Which of course they can.

I have to go. I don't want to think about it any longer. The red mist is coming...

Bugger, bugger, bugger. I've been writing this topic in my head for the last couple of days but you beat me to it Soundman. He who hesitates is, indeed, lost.

Yeah, a good point well made. I never cease to be amazed at the bare-faced cynicism of Thai politicians, of whatever stripe. They make their Western counterparts appear as paragons of virtue; no easy task. The thing that always strikes me is that they never even try to camouflage their attitude. That's either breathtaking arrogance or just habit born of decades of riding roughshod over all bar friends and family.

I say no. No, gov does I think.

Blahhdy heck Soundman, Heeeeeavy! Have you been smoking the cheeba cheeba?

I never cease to be amazed at the bare-faced cynicism of Thai politicians, of whatever stripe. They make their Western counterparts appear as paragons of virtue; no easy task. The thing that always strikes me is that they never even try to camouflage their attitude. That's either breathtaking arrogance or just habit born of decades of riding roughshod over all bar friends and family.

Good point, but sometimes I suspect that even friends and family get trampled in the rush to acquire wealth.

Blahhdy heck Soundman, Heeeeeavy! Have you been smoking the cheeba cheeba?

I keep wanting a dime bag, have not smoked it in years and would hate to start but lately it has sounded very nice.

I'm gonna take it up again in my retirement.

I'm gonna take it up again in my retirement.

I hear window box gardening is real popular with the retired community.