Why Do We Allow Politics To Be Thailand's Main Risk Factor?

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THAI TALK

Why do we allow politics to be our main risk factor?

By Suthichai Yoon

The Nation

Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul says Thai politics represents 50 per cent of Thailand's "risk factors" in 2011, while uncertainties over the international economy account for 30 per cent. That's a bizarre proportion, by any standard.

The remaining 20 per cent "risk factors," in his opinion, include the prices of agricultural products and consumer goods, as well as rising oil prices.

The fact that the central bank governor's negative forecast about how politics plays such a major role in the country's landscape has not raised eyebrows among Thais is in itself mind-boggling. Very few people have asked why. That's even more puzzling.

Aren't we going to have a general election this year? Isn't that good news for a democratic country? Shouldn't we all be rejoicing over the fact that we can all cast our ballots once again to pick the best and the brightest to make good laws and govern the country? Isn't that the biggest plus factor of all?

But apparently this year's election isn't considered "politics" in the general scheme of things. It is generally understood, it seems, that when we talk about "politics" in Thailand these days, the picture that comes to mind is of various groups of people with their own agenda trying to force the rest of the country to toe their line - or else they will create trouble for everybody else.

The meaning of "politics" has degenerated into a pervasive mood of cynicism, naysaying, gloom and revenge. It represents confrontational engagement in which there can only be "good guys" against "bad guys" and nothing in between. And if you are not on one side, you are somehow assigned to the other side. And no amount of protestation from you can change that label thrust upon you.

Such political discordance isn't totally absent in all other democracies of course. But it is usually confined to certain hard-core activists whose extreme views are treated the way they should be - as extreme views.

But somehow we have allowed that kind of destructive, self-centred politics - which has nothing to do with informed public debate and an exchange of reasonable views - to dominate the national landscape. So much so that "bad politics" is considered a normal way of life and "responsible politics" has been edged out of the mainstream.

"Politics" in this new, ill-defined state pits one activist group against the other, leaving no space for the rest of us in society to exercise our rightful freedom of expression. Those in the middle have been squeezed into depression, frustration, and, worst of all, a general sense of helplessness.

This year's general election may not offer a chance to turn things around and give politics a more acceptable face. But still, it at least presents a chance for some real national issues to be raised - and political parties somehow have to pretend that they care about what concerns the people, whose aspirations have long been shunted aside by the continuing battle between the main protagonists with their own fixed agendas.

The country has been mired in a ruinous conflict over whether you are for or against the yellow shirts or red shirts - whether you are for or against Thaksin Shinawatra. And that has defined what "politics" is all about in Thailand over the past few years.

The real issues though, have to concentrate on how Thailand should cope with economic uncertainties on both the domestic and international fronts - and how the rich-poor gap can be reduced with the right kind of political platform.

If our politics is where it should be, the major item on the national agenda that should draw most attention isn't about who is attacking whom over critical remarks. The thrust of the whole country's debate must be about why our education system remains backward and why repeated attempts at reform have failed so miserably.

If our politics is put in its right place, Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn would be wrong to say that politics constitutes half of the country's risk factors this year.

Politics, if done right, should be a plus factor that ushers us into an election year that raises hopes that the people's voice will finally be heard - and not drowned out by a cacophony of demagoguery and hyperbole.

-- The Nation 2011-01-13

[AZBill]

Has this writer paid any attention to how his government is run???? When you have one of the most blatantly corrupt political systems in the world and everyone knows it, how can you be suprised it's such a risk? Why you all allow it? I have no idea! This stuff isn't tolerated in the modern world!

[selftaopath]

Has this writer paid any attention to how his government is run???? When you have one of the most blatantly corrupt political systems in the world and everyone knows it, how can you be suprised it's such a risk? Why you all allow it? I have no idea! This stuff isn't tolerated in the modern world!

Amen. Thank you.

And as the adage states: What we allow, we condone.