Is Thailand Really Ready For Democracy?

[Shah Jahan]

Actually what Thaksin has done in Thailand and what Dick Cheney has done over the last 8 years in Amerika are very similar in nature.

the only difference is that Americans are trained to put up with the crap until the next election and Thais have no need to wait. In that way, I would say that Thailand is a much more evolved democracy than the USA.

[samiinjapan]

No its not..

they should try to be like

Japan and singapore and china and North Korea

They are all One party system...

and work very well other then North Korea

[sabaijai]

Actually what Thaksin has done in Thailand and what Dick Cheney has done over the last 8 years in Amerika are very similar in nature.

the only difference is that Americans are trained to put up with the crap until the next election and Thais have no need to wait. In that way, I would say that Thailand is a much more evolved democracy than the USA.

[PeaceBlondie]

Folks, please do not re-post nested re-posts of nested re-posts. We do not have time to edit, just to delete your post. Thanks.

[sabaijai]

\

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong with cited sources. Thailand has had PMs since the late 60s. 1992 was the first election where citizens could vote for them. Thaksin won with 49% in 2001 and in 2005 he was the first to be reelected and won with over 50% of the vote.

sources: Thai Society class in 1999; a 2005 Thaksin biography and the 2004-06 experience.

There have been many elected administrations since 1932, all of them short-lived. The first PM installed by democratic election was Phot Phahonyothin in 1933. Here is a list of all Thai PMs since 1932, with notes on how each was installed, whether by coup, election or royal appointment. Check also the 1975 results for a detailed example.

More recently Prem was elected in 83 and 86 (one of several PMs who have been elected more than once), Chatichai in 88, Chuan in 92, Chavalit in 96.

[klikster]

But the country must perserve with democracy.

If by "perserv" you mean to fight for and strive for a democratic system, ask yourself how Thailand came in touch with "democracy" back in '32?.

Democracy was never won by the Thais, it was thrust upon them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pridi

Edited November 29, 2008 by klikster

[jdinasia]

PM's are not elected by the populace --- they are elected by the MP's

edit -- typo

Edited November 29, 2008 by jdinasia

[APMann]

Actually what Thaksin has done in Thailand and what Dick Cheney has done over the last 8 years in Amerika are very similar in nature.

the only difference is that Americans are trained to put up with the crap until the next election and Thais have no need to wait. In that way, I would say that Thailand is a much more evolved democracy than the USA.

Or put it another way - Americans have respect for the rule of law. Thais don't.

[wayfarer108]

Actually what Thaksin has done in Thailand and what Dick Cheney has done over the last 8 years in Amerika are very similar in nature.

the only difference is that Americans are trained to put up with the crap until the next election and Thais have no need to wait. In that way, I would say that Thailand is a much more evolved democracy than the USA.

Or put it another way - Americans have respect for the rule of law. Thais don't.

Sure the Americans do, as demonstrated at Watergate, Iran-contra drug deals, the fake 'Tonkin Gulf incident', Abu Graib, election fixing in Florida, etc. American prisons are heaving with people who have respect for rule of law.

Edited November 29, 2008 by wayfarer108

[myauq]

sounds just like America. Thailand IS a democracy on record and the examples you mentioned.

Great!!! Maybe you could develop a little, because people on the forum are not in your head and probably didn't understood what you meant.

rich vs. poor...inferior vs. superior...skin differences...everything you mentioned. This is the same in America. Thailand the past 17 years has been as much of a democracy as the USA has ever been. The only difference is the gov't controls the military in the US. That's why you've never seen in America what happened in LOS in 2006 or Burma/Myanmar 1988 on (military kicking out democratically elected government).

what absolute wank this argument is.

america's social and political systems are nothing like thailand, in any conceivable way.

1) america is a society based on immigration, composed of many ethnic, racial and linguistic backgrounds. thailand is pretty much monoracial, and people are encouraged and taught to see their country this way, with laws and an education system which explicitly discriminates against minorities (i.e. no schooling for refugees, or poorer migrants from neighbouring countries).

2) the recent democratic election of a minority person (african-american) to the top office could not happen in thailand. it would be like a burmese born refugee becoming president. again, too much active discrimination legally and socially to allow that to happen.

3) laws in america value freedom of speech. this is even a topic of debate among politicians, media advocates and community leaders. laws in thailand do not permit free speech, and the culture doesn't encourage criticism of those who are wealthy or in positions of power.

4) this point is further supported by the media in america and it's freedom of press, which again does not exist in thailand. the media in america is by no means perfect, but it does permit people to express contrary views and opinions. look at the coverage of cnn during the election campaign; despite there being so much boring interpretation of opinion polls, gauging of facts and assessment of personalities and policies, there was actually active debate and argument going on. this is important thing that we often take for granted as citizens of democratic countries. there are simply no such programs on thai tv where people can criticised the political system, and some of the elites that underpin it, in any manner.

5) there is no value or advocacy for human rights in thailand. people keep bringing up guantanamo bay (which sure is an example of an international human rights breech by america), but all of the above factors allow things to change over there, as they are about to with obama. there is a long history of philanthropy in america and many other developed countries, which is encouraged to some extent by the political establishment and media. it does exist in a different way in south east asia (ie through the family, or religion), but not as strongly as in western and developed asian countries like japan. thais, by and large, do not give to charity or are willing to support the poor - there is just no benefit for them to do so.

in short, thailand (undemocratic) = america (also undemocratic) = no brainer. no comparison folks.