Only Honesty Will Help Democracy To Survive In Thailand

[webfact]

BURNING ISSUE

Only honesty will help democracy survive

By Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation

Democracy is perhaps one of the most overused, abused and confusing terms in Thai politics. Coup-makers, corrupt politicians, ultra-royalists, die-hard supporters of former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, vote buyers and sellers as well as the autocrats all claim that they're committed to democracy.

When was the last time a coup-maker was heard saying he was not for democracy? All, including those who staged the last military coup in 2006, say they're committed to restoring democracy - whatever that means in reality.

Corrupt politicians who buy votes and those who readily sell their vote say they too are doing it for democracy.

The academics and political activists that I have met over the past few years declare that they are for democracy, although deep down inside they clearly prefer the "enlightened and unelected elite" on the seat of power.

Both the yellow and the red-shirt movements claim the other side is obstructing their fight for democracy.

At a recent Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand talk, Samana Bodhirak, leader of the Santi Asoke Buddhist sect, was asked what his ideal democratic system would be now that he has denounced the Democrat Party for being undemocratic. His answer was that even if the country were to be ruled by a dictator who is selfless and does good for the society, then it would be an ideal democracy.

Perhaps, it is "unacceptable" in Thailand to be undemocratic, which is why everyone is beating the democracy drum.

Judging from how frequently the word is uttered, Thailand should already have become "totally", maybe even "overwhelmingly" democratic. But is it?

The painful truth is that a society cannot achieve democracy and resolve its political differences by simply reciting one word - democracy - ad infinitum.

Perhaps we need brave and honest people, be they the army generals who are interested in coups, the thin faced academics or the demonstrators, who have something else deep in their hearts and are just waiting to talk about it.

Upon closer examination, it appears that a good number of the educated Thais prefer some sort of "guided democracy", where a small number of supposedly enlightened and selfless elites, bureaucrats, technocrats and generals, be they elected or not, run the Kingdom with little or no insight.

The poor and the less educated people talk about a "tangible democracy", under which the poor benefit from the state, like the controversial ones that were made popular by Thaksin. In cases like this, the issue of vote buying or corruption is of a lesser concern, because all parties are corrupt to a greater or lesser extent.

Then there are the people who also genuinely believe that staging a military coup every now and then strengthens Thai democracy by providing a "clean slate" for development.

Somewhere along the line, some of these versions no longer make the cut, because the term "democracy" ends up representing something that is quite the opposite.

When the notion of democracy is twisted to the point of becoming something else altogether, like autocracy, can we really say that democracy has triumphed?

Cloaking autocratic tendencies under different shades of democracy will only the stunt the development of true democracy.

What Thailand really needs is proper and honest debates - both from the left and right side of politics - about which political system would best work the country. Politicians need to speak their minds, without the fear of losing face or getting persecuted, if true democracy is to even be contemplated.

-- The Nation 2011-03-09

[asiawatcher]

What a ridiculous heading. Lip service and no solutions which simply continues to state the obvious. Is it that Thai's need to be continually told about corruption - especially when nothing is ever done about it? Farang look at it and laugh - it could be your next big soap opera - just take the daily occurrences and fill in the gaps. Then it really would be The Never Ending Story!

[LomSak27]

[biloutte]

many people here cannot to be honest they win more money when they can shit their people

just need to look when they make meeting who go on the street where they come from and about their education

and who send them there

me i think if no have some money behind from corruption for go there we wont see people

sade to see that

[elshaheen]

What a ridiculous heading. Lip service and no solutions which simply continues to state the obvious. Is it that Thai's need to be continually told about corruption - especially when nothing is ever done about it? Farang look at it and laugh - it could be your next big soap opera - just take the daily occurrences and fill in the gaps. Then it really would be The Never Ending Story!

Is this how Thailand's Gov idea of a bad practical joke. Honesty. First they must really understand this word, and really mediate on it then put it into practice.

Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and denotes positive, virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness along with the absence of lying, cheating, or theft.

I tend to find more humor in watching Sarah Palin making a buffoon out of herself on Fox Network TV news and when she goes onto other talk shows. On how she will change America to a much better nation.

Sarah Palin Thinks Humans & Dinosaurs Co-Existed or Sarah Palin thinks George Bush is God.

The only way for Thai government to be honest, is to first quite, resign, retire. Then the people might believe they are honest or be like what’s happening in Africa and throw their butts out on too the streets.

[whybother]

Is this how Thailand's Gov idea of a bad practical joke. Honesty. First they must really understand this word, and really mediate on it then put it into practice.

Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and denotes positive, virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness along with the absence of lying, cheating, or theft.

I tend to find more humor in watching Sarah Palin making a buffoon out of herself on Fox Network TV news and when she goes onto other talk shows. On how she will change America to a much better nation.

Sarah Palin Thinks Humans & Dinosaurs Co-Existed or Sarah Palin thinks George Bush is God.

The only way for Thai government to be honest, is to first quite, resign, retire. Then the people might believe they are honest or be like what's happening in Africa and throw their butts out on too the streets.

This article doesn't just apply to the government. It applies to all Thai people. Do you want everyone to resign and retire?

[swillowbee]

... face facts ... Thailand is a nation of children.

... when dealing with Thais, I have the best outcome when I treat them as I would a 13-year old girl ... all of them ... from the captains of industry to taxi drivers ... everything becomes more clear for me ... their behaviors are better understood and their reactions are better anticipated.

... you cannot give democracy to a nation of 13-year old girls ... the outcome is predictable (witness exhibit 'A' ... uh ... present day Thailand).

... and, if democracy relies upon honesty, there will be no democracy in Thailand ... honesty is decidedly NOT a Thai cultural value ... honesty is not valued here ... full stop ... end of paragraph.

... as the monk Samana Bodhirak in the article cited, a benevolent "dictator" is better suited for Thais ... just as a parent is better suited for dealing with 13-year old girls.

... let's get real about this, eh? ... I think the monk got it right ... maybe Thais should throw democracy under the bus and return to old school, 18-century style absolute monarchy ... could they do worse?

Edited March 9, 2011 by swillowbee

[AZBill]

The state of Thailand's political system has been wrote about ad infinitum but their words mean nothing and fall on deaf ears.. All Thais know the situation and tolerate it. To say Thailand and democracy in the same sentence is not only a joke, but an insult to real democracies who fought and died to achieve it. Democracy is more than just a bumpy road. It takes a burning national commitment over centuries for it to happen and endure. The US fought a revolution, a civil war, and two world wars. Social democracy came slow as we had slavery until the late 19th century, persisting prejudice thereafter, and women didn't even have the right to vote until the 1920s. Thailand has no such national commitment, nor does it have the stomach to go through the messy process it takes to obtain any semblence of a democracy. It starts with the people. That wil NEVER happen in Thailand because the people are weak and apethetic. We farang look at the Thais and just shake our heads with all your talk about democracy. You have absolutely no clue and you will never acheive it because it is not within your collective spirit and strength as a country to ever get their. Mai pen rai and the fight for democracy are mutually exclusive terms.

[jonclark]

. Mai pen rai and the fight for democracy are mutually exclusive terms.

Never have truer words been spoken.

[truethailand]

The US fought a revolution, a civil war........

Is this the first step to real democracy for Thailand? I cannot think of many countries who have progressed to their current democracy without a blood letting. Hide your head in the sand. As posters on here, we farangs have our differences of opinion but we will have no effect on the outcome of this nation. All the signs are there, we have had warnings, what will happen will happen.

[hammered]

I would like Pravit to explain where the left side in Thai politics is? Dems, coalition allies, yellows and reds are all uber-nationalists who play the xenophobia card at will, so there is no left there. Economically the opposition has a bigger harder on about globalization and free market economics than the current mob and only the yellows leninist economics although nobody in their right mind would call them left. Everyone is agreed on massive state handouts althouhg not probably from any social democratic standpoint but more one of "buying" votes.

All sides have shown they have no concern for human rights.

All sides and pressure groups are led by tradional powerful people and their henchmen.

The problem in Thailand is that there is no genuine left option for the people and no ideology that leans that way either, so it is always a choice of right wing demagogue authoritarians who are competing to toss a few bones while positioning the business opportunities and empires of themsleves and their mates to make a mint

[gregb]

Democracy and honesty are mutually exclusive concepts. Honest politicians don't get reelected. Dictators secure in their power base can afford to be honest. They don't need anyone's approval. People who need to be elected have tell constituents what they want to hear, and reality is irrelevant in that respect. It is clear that democracy is doomed in Thailand if can't be saved short of politicians telling the truth.

What a naive story.

[whybother]

The US fought a revolution, a civil war........

Is this the first step to real democracy for Thailand? I cannot think of many countries who have progressed to their current democracy without a blood letting. Hide your head in the sand. As posters on here, we farangs have our differences of opinion but we will have no effect on the outcome of this nation. All the signs are there, we have had warnings, what will happen will happen.

Australia did.

Before Thailand moves to a "real democracy", they need to find a leader that wants it.

If the red shirts get their leader (Thaksin) back in power, or if it is to be any of their current leaders, that won't be a change to a democracy that they say they want. That will just be more of the same shit that Thailand has had for 80 years.

The only way to get real democracy in Thailand, is to get rid of (or at least severely restrict) corruption. This won't come about by having the red shirt leaders leading the country.

[Xangsamhua]

I would like Pravit to explain where the left side in Thai politics is? Dems, coalition allies, yellows and reds are all uber-nationalists who play the xenophobia card at will, so there is no left there. Economically the opposition has a bigger harder on about globalization and free market economics than the current mob and only the yellows leninist economics although nobody in their right mind would call them left. Everyone is agreed on massive state handouts althouhg not probably from any social democratic standpoint but more one of "buying" votes.

All sides have shown they have no concern for human rights.

All sides and pressure groups are led by tradional powerful people and their henchmen.

The problem in Thailand is that there is no genuine left option for the people and no ideology that leans that way either, so it is always a choice of right wing demagogue authoritarians who are competing to toss a few bones while positioning the business opportunities and empires of themsleves and their mates to make a mint

There may not be much of a genuine ethical conservative option either. Central to conservative intellectual method is the question: "Is it really a good idea, given local conditions?" And an idea is judged "good" or not depending on how it affects the majority of people while also assisting the vulnerable.

It may not be such a good idea at this stage in its history for Thailand to adopt US or UK-style democracy. The latter requires both the intention and the resources to put the interests of the wider community before one's own family and kinship network, and requires commitment to the process (i.e. if you lose the election you wait till the next one). Democracy requires a degree of trust. None of these things are in place in Thailand. The intention, resources and trust are simply not there yet.

Something less than full democracy is required for the foreseeable future, but more than rule by an unelected power-elite operating behind the scenes. Perhaps the NPP's idea of 50% elected (revised up from 30%) and 50% appointed senior and qualified representatives of commercial, professional and civic sectors, is a practicable interim solution. But none of the major players are going to support it. Civil war or another military coup is more likely.

[jayboy]

The US fought a revolution, a civil war........

Is this the first step to real democracy for Thailand? I cannot think of many countries who have progressed to their current democracy without a blood letting. Hide your head in the sand. As posters on here, we farangs have our differences of opinion but we will have no effect on the outcome of this nation. All the signs are there, we have had warnings, what will happen will happen.

Australia did.

Before Thailand moves to a "real democracy", they need to find a leader that wants it.

If the red shirts get their leader (Thaksin) back in power, or if it is to be any of their current leaders, that won't be a change to a democracy that they say they want. That will just be more of the same shit that Thailand has had for 80 years.

The only way to get real democracy in Thailand, is to get rid of (or at least severely restrict) corruption. This won't come about by having the red shirt leaders leading the country.

Australia's not a good example because it inherited democracy lock, stock and barrel from the UK.

South Korea is a better example and what is more has tamed its army's political ambitions.

[Bagwan]

The state of Thailand's political system has been wrote about ad infinitum but their words mean nothing and fall on deaf ears.. All Thais know the situation and tolerate it. To say Thailand and democracy in the same sentence is not only a joke, but an insult to real democracies who fought and died to achieve it. Democracy is more than just a bumpy road. It takes a burning national commitment over centuries for it to happen and endure. The US fought a revolution, a civil war, and two world wars. Social democracy came slow as we had slavery until the late 19th century, persisting prejudice thereafter, and women didn't even have the right to vote until the 1920s. Thailand has no such national commitment, nor does it have the stomach to go through the messy process it takes to obtain any semblence of a democracy. It starts with the people. That wil NEVER happen in Thailand because the people are weak and apethetic. We farang look at the Thais and just shake our heads with all your talk about democracy. You have absolutely no clue and you will never acheive it because it is not within your collective spirit and strength as a country to ever get their. Mai pen rai and the fight for democracy are mutually exclusive terms.

Apart from the view of a Revolution and two World Wars seen through rose tinted glasses, I agree. Hollywood and the crappy American TV as propaganda machines have no equal.

Democracy in the UK was kicked off in 1215 with the signing of the Magna Charta and for many the struggle still continues today. A monument to commemorate the event was erected there and it was paid for by the American Bar Association and contributions from 9,000 American lawyers, in recognition of the fact that the Magna Carta was basis for the American Constitution which was drawn up in 1787.

It is fitting that a memorial to the Air Forces that saw service in the European theatre in WW2 is situated nearby as is a monument in honour of John F Kennedy.

I'm intrigued as to why 13 year old girls have been singled out in posts above. So 13 year old boys are OK then? It's just an old partially reconstructed MCP asking. Most 13 year old misses have already commenced their lives of penal servitude by that age while the lads are already well on the way to becoming drones.

[trogers]

Thailand achieving Democracy is like a leukemia patient completing a marathon run...lol!

And the cancer is already chewing into the bones.

Edited March 9, 2011 by trogers

[Seanextra]

... face facts ... Thailand is a nation of children.

... when dealing with Thais, I have the best outcome when I treat them as I would a 13-year old girl ... all of them ... from the captains of industry to taxi drivers ... everything becomes more clear for me ... their behaviors are better understood and their reactions are better anticipated.

... you cannot give democracy to a nation of 13-year old girls ... the outcome is predictable (witness exhibit 'A' ... uh ... present day Thailand).

... and, if democracy relies upon honesty, there will be no democracy in Thailand ... honesty is decidedly NOT a Thai cultural value ... honesty is not valued here ... full stop ... end of paragraph.

... as the monk Samana Bodhirak in the article cited, a benevolent "dictator" is better suited for Thais ... just as a parent is better suited for dealing with 13-year old girls.

... let's get real about this, eh? ... I think the monk got it right ... maybe Thais should throw democracy under the bus and return to old school, 18-century style absolute monarchy ... could they do worse?

Well put, talking with a fellow expat aussie the other day we came to this exact conclusion !

Edited March 9, 2011 by Seanextra

[ginjag]

Thailand achieving Democracy is like a leukemia patient completing a marathon run...lol!

And the cancer is already chewing into the bones.

Look at the vast amount of farrangs that have TRUSTED Thai people and got stung badly..This is still an ongoing situation.

Thais in general don't give a fig, They have to trust themselves before they can trust others. Expats have found this out, They have trusted themselves-then gone on to trust Thais.

Now thats all gone --the vast majority will never totally trust a Thai, even the happily married ones must doubt at times, if not they have let their guard down and may regret later --if not, enjoy your good fortune, you are one of the lucky ones....................BEFORE you lovers of Thailand kick me in the back, I do enjoy it here, I keep them all at arms legnth, but smile, sawadee. The best way is not to entice, just be pleasant.

[drdoom6996]

Honesty???????????????????????????????? How many Thais no what it means? Much less democracy. Lying is a way of life in most areas of Asia that I have lived and worked in. I had to unlearn my daughter after my ex-wife taught her to tell me what I wanted to hear instead of the truth

WHAT A RIDICULES ARTICLE.

[brahmburgers]

True honesty is one of the toughest things to adhere to. It helps, if youngsters have truly honest role models such as parents and politicians, - but even the most sterling influences aren't going to make a person honest. Honesty comes from within, same for forthrightness and personal responsibility.

Even in a so-called 'perfect world' we might expect close to half of people to be somewhat honest and responsible. In the real world, however, real honesty can be attributed to a fraction of 1% - the type of people who, if they found a wallet, might spend concerted effort in getting it back to the owner. The type of person who would tell a would-be spouse (or boss or loan agent) all the not-so-pretty things about themselves.

Fact is, lying gets you a lot further in this society, than telling the truth. The poster boy for that is Thaksin - the man who taught a generation or two of Thais that lying & cheating pays - and honesty is for sissies and the weak.

[inmysights]

... face facts ... Thailand is a nation of children.

... when dealing with Thais, I have the best outcome when I treat them as I would a 13-year old girl ... all of them ... from the captains of industry to taxi drivers ... everything becomes more clear for me ... their behaviors are better understood and their reactions are better anticipated.

... you cannot give democracy to a nation of 13-year old girls ... the outcome is predictable (witness exhibit 'A' ... uh ... present day Thailand).

... and, if democracy relies upon honesty, there will be no democracy in Thailand ... honesty is decidedly NOT a Thai cultural value ... honesty is not valued here ... full stop ... end of paragraph.

... as the monk Samana Bodhirak in the article cited, a benevolent "dictator" is better suited for Thais ... just as a parent is better suited for dealing with 13-year old girls.

... let's get real about this, eh? ... I think the monk got it right ... maybe Thais should throw democracy under the bus and return to old school, 18-century style absolute monarchy ... could they do worse?

Yes, stop banging your heads against a brick wall.

Honesty is not a cultural trait. But do bear in mind that there are a lot of farang to be found in the midst of the downright dishonest albeit making up a very small percentage of the population. And if I hear that equally stupid blood catch-all let-off-the-hook word 'face' yet again ...

And secondly, one only has to read thepeoplesvoice.org to see that although Thailand way down the scale with their stupid so-called 'democracy', could be a lot worse given that at least we know the 'better the devil ...' and aren't under any illusions as to the adverse.

But. 'Absolute monarchy' same Santa Clause? Perpetual 'subject/ignoramus ... hmmmm'

[inmysights]

Thailand achieving Democracy is like a leukemia patient completing a marathon run...lol!

And the cancer is already chewing into the bones.

Look at the vast amount of farrangs that have TRUSTED Thai people and got stung badly..This is still an ongoing situation.

Thais in general don't give a fig, They have to trust themselves before they can trust others. Expats have found this out, They have trusted themselves-then gone on to trust Thais.

Now thats all gone --the vast majority will never totally trust a Thai, even the happily married ones must doubt at times, if not they have let their guard down and may regret later --if not, enjoy your good fortune, you are one of the lucky ones....................BEFORE you lovers of Thailand kick me in the back, I do enjoy it here, I keep them all at arms legnth, but smile, sawadee. The best way is not to entice, just be pleasant.

I don't believe I'm alone in doing that with most of the expat community here too. So many farang are duped by the scoundrels who take advantage of the fact that a farang will 'trust' another farang because of their bad experiences with Thais. Many shades of grey and all that.

Edited March 9, 2011 by inmysights

[inmysights]

The US fought a revolution, a civil war........

Is this the first step to real democracy for Thailand? I cannot think of many countries who have progressed to their current democracy without a blood letting. Hide your head in the sand. As posters on here, we farangs have our differences of opinion but we will have no effect on the outcome of this nation. All the signs are there, we have had warnings, what will happen will happen.

Australia did.

Before Thailand moves to a "real democracy", they need to find a leader that wants it.

If the red shirts get their leader (Thaksin) back in power, or if it is to be any of their current leaders, that won't be a change to a democracy that they say they want. That will just be more of the same shit that Thailand has had for 80 years.

The only way to get real democracy in Thailand, is to get rid of (or at least severely restrict) corruption. This won't come about by having the red shirt leaders leading the country.

Or is capable of it.

[jimbeam1]

Only HONESTY will help Democracy To Survive in Thailand.

jb1

[Emptyset]

I would like Pravit to explain where the left side in Thai politics is? Dems, coalition allies, yellows and reds are all uber-nationalists who play the xenophobia card at will, so there is no left there. Economically the opposition has a bigger harder on about globalization and free market economics than the current mob and only the yellows leninist economics although nobody in their right mind would call them left. Everyone is agreed on massive state handouts althouhg not probably from any social democratic standpoint but more one of "buying" votes.

All sides have shown they have no concern for human rights.

All sides and pressure groups are led by tradional powerful people and their henchmen.

The problem in Thailand is that there is no genuine left option for the people and no ideology that leans that way either, so it is always a choice of right wing demagogue authoritarians who are competing to toss a few bones while positioning the business opportunities and empires of themsleves and their mates to make a mint

Well, there is a left-wing presence within the red shirts, but more within the minority factions than within the UDD itself. Somyot's June 24 group, Sombat's group and Daeng Siam could all be described as leftist, and are supported mainly by socialists, grassroots labour activists & left-leaning liberals - the numbers these groups attract is only in the low thousands, however. Outside the red shirts there are many unaligned left-wing people put off joining the red shirts, mainly by Thaksin, and of course many self-described liberals support the Democrats. Why they're not all united because of their ideology (like people/parties are in Europe, say) is a good question and one that I have an answer for but can't really discuss here because it's not permitted. Surely what mainly divides people isn't traditional categories of left/right (even though these are still a factor), but whether they're radical or conservative in the Thai context?

Conservatism is generally thought to be about preserving the status quo, so it's perfectly possible be somewhat left-wing economically and still be described as a conservative in the Thai context - hence some leftists like Ji Ungkaporn are scornful towards the (arguably) somewhat left-wing (but not really Leninist as Hammered described) sufficiency economics theories that PAD and others promote, as they're more about protecting the status quo than challenging it. Equally, Dr Prawase and similar social activists might well be radical, even "anarchist" in a western context, but are described as conservatives in Thailand.

Anyway, I'd say there is a left, but it's a minority, split between different factions and uncertain in direction. Also, there's not really been a leftist presence in electoral politics since the seventies, the leftists that re-entered society after the CPT disbanded have worked for various mostly right-wing capitalist parties, including a significant presence in Thai Rak Thai (many ex-CPT might not be MPs but vote canvassers for these parties). As Hammered notes, the left has no natural political party and it's not obvious how they could translate their social activism into a parliamentary context at the present time, many will indeed just continue doing deals with right-wingers in exchange for scraps...

[christiaan]

. Mai pen rai and the fight for democracy are mutually exclusive terms.

Never have truer words been spoken.

Thailand has a unique and very specific state of interdependent conditions. Every aspect in Thailand keeps the Thai situation going on as it is. If just one of the main aspects of the interdependent conditions of Thailand dramatically would change the whole system would - have - to change - . Thailand needs a revolution of awareness, to go up from teenagerawareness to adolescence-awareness. I think when that would happen , and only the young - new- people of Thailand can do, since the old ones are entangled in their indoctrinated conservative traditional habitual thinking, Thailand will have a future.

[Oberkommando]

There doesn't seem to be light at the end of the tunnel for democracy here, the next one is as mad as a brush.

[inmysights]

. Mai pen rai and the fight for democracy are mutually exclusive terms.

Never have truer words been spoken.

Thailand has a unique and very specific state of interdependent conditions. Every aspect in Thailand keeps the Thai situation going on as it is. If just one of the main aspects of the interdependent conditions of Thailand dramatically would change the whole system would - have - to change - . Thailand needs a revolution of awareness, to go up from teenagerawareness to adolescence-awareness. I think when that would happen , and only the young - new- people of Thailand can do, since the old ones are entangled in their indoctrinated conservative traditional habitual thinking, Thailand will have a future.

If you think for just one moment that the majority of Thai youth will in any way alter Thailand's thinking in this regard, you are seriously mistaken. There are indeed many Thai youths unable to express their opinion (as are we, of course) But believe me, they are there.

And there are many older Thais who agree. They're not all bloody senile you know. Simply need access to 'unbiased' information. Same as the West.

[elshaheen]

Is this how Thailand's Gov idea of a bad practical joke. Honesty. First they must really understand this word, and really mediate on it then put it into practice.

Honesty refers to a facet of moral character and denotes positive, virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, and straightforwardness along with the absence of lying, cheating, or theft.

I tend to find more humor in watching Sarah Palin making a buffoon out of herself on Fox Network TV news and when she goes onto other talk shows. On how she will change America to a much better nation.

Sarah Palin Thinks Humans & Dinosaurs Co-Existed or Sarah Palin thinks George Bush is God.

The only way for Thai government to be honest, is to first quite, resign, retire. Then the people might believe they are honest or be like what's happening in Africa and throw their butts out on too the streets.

This article doesn't just apply to the government. It applies to all Thai people. Do you want everyone to resign and retire?

Yes, the problem has been going on for a long time. What the country needs is a massive overhaul and a clean slate. Otherwise what you see going on in the Middle East and Africa will eventually spread here.

If those who get choose to run again and get elected. The message will be clear, Thai people like things the way they are.